Power Profile – Representative Brad Pollitt
Representative Brad Pollitt represents the 52nd District in the Missouri House of Representatives. Photo courtesy of Tim Bommel/House Communications.
With a background in education and a deep connection to Missouri agriculture, Rep. Brad Pollitt, R-Sedalia, brings a practical, grounded perspective to policymaking.
Representing the 52nd District in the Missouri House of Representatives, Pollitt’s taken a growing interest in Missouri’s energy future, particularly in how utility policy affects reliability for rural communities and everyday consumers.
That interest helped shape Senate Bill 4, a major utility bill signed into law earlier this year. Pollitt played a role in crafting the bill’s watt-for-watt requirement, which mandates investor-owned utilities back up renewable generation with dispatchable power sources such as natural gas or coal. He viewed the provision as a safeguard for consumers, particularly during periods of extreme heat or cold, when energy demand surges and intermittent sources alone may not be enough.
“If it’s below zero for days in a row or over 100 degrees, people need to know that when they flip a switch, the power will be there,” he said, noting it’s a provision he considers to be one of his most meaningful legislative accomplishments.
Pollitt said the legislation marked a long-overdue step toward securing the grid and ensuring utilities are prepared for all conditions.
“We had to make a decision,” he said. “We’ve been kicking the can down the road when it comes to our infrastructure and through our grid.”
Pollitt’s interest in energy policy sharpened after he was elected to the Missouri House, especially when time-of-use rate proposals affecting his district drew his attention. Since then, he has taken a deeper interest in utility issues and supported legislation related to energy and infrastructure, including proposals addressing eminent domain and rural utility development.
As a farmer and cattleman, Pollitt has a firsthand view of how reliable energy intersects with daily life, especially when outages affect livestock waterers.
“When that electricity goes off and those waterers quit working, you're talking about a major expense,” he said.
That perspective has also shaped his appreciation for the people working behind the scenes to keep power flowing — especially linemen who brave dangerous weather to restore service when it matters most. Pollitt said he considers them on par with veterans and first responders.
“They’re out there when it’s 20 below and they’re on top of a pole with swinging electricity around,” he said. “They’re lifesavers during crises.”
Pollitt has made rural issues a priority throughout his time in office, from education and agriculture to health care access and broadband.
He’s also keeping a close eye on how energy policy affects land use.
“There’s a lot of productive Missouri farmland that’s going under solar panels,” he said, noting that while he supports property rights, the shift could have long-term effects on agriculture.
Pollitt and his wife, Danette, have been married 30 years and have three grown children working in agriculture, government and health care. The family stays busy, balancing time between the farm and sporting events. “Since I coached girls' basketball, my daughters played a lot of sports,” he said. “We like to go watch the Kansas City Current.”
A former teacher, principal and school superintendent, Pollitt retired after more than three decades in education before entering the Legislature. Though he describes himself as a “commonsense conservative,” his approach is rooted in careful listening and thoughtful decision-making.
“I think there's two sides to every story and you should hear both sides and then make an informed decision,” he said.
Now in his final term in the Missouri House, Pollitt has launched a campaign to be the next state senator to represent the 28th Senatorial District in the Missouri Senate. He hopes to carry forward his work on energy reliability, land use, education and rural health care while broadening his reach on statewide issues. To learn more about Rep. Pollitt, please visit his official website at house.mo.gov.