Name Leonard IV Role Legislator | Party Democratic Party | |
Leonard S. Hughes IV (born April 15, 1979) is a Democratic Legislator in the Missouri House of Representatives. He represents part of Kansas City, Missouri in Jackson County, District 42. He was the youngest African-American ever elected to the Missouri House at the age of 25, and is the youngest current serving member.
Hughes was elected to the Missouri House in 2005. Two years later he ran successfully for re-election to the House. During his tenure as a Legislator he has championed Economic Development for inner-city Kansas City. He has also been a vocal proponent of the School Choice Movement that stirs controversy across the nation. Education being very important to him as he served as Vice Chair on the Committee for Urban Education. He was also an advocate for education reformation as a member of the Student Achievement Committee. In 2006 he led efforts to establish a commission to monitor Missouri's Minority & Women's Business Enterprise program. He successfully ran the campaign to push the legislation through the Missouri .