MARYVILLE, Mo.— Residents were invited to have dinner with Winston Apple on Saturday night at A&G Bar and Grill. The congressional candidate made a stop at the local restaurant to talk with voters about his platform and plans should he win the U.S. House of Representatives seat.

Apple talked about his decision to run for office, saying now seemed like the best time to take part.

“I have a feeling that we are on the verge of the next big victory in the American revolution, moving us toward genuine democracy and reestablishing a government by and for the people,” Apple said. “I want to do whatever I can to contribute to that movement, and this seemed like the best thing I can do.”
The Independence-based candidate began his campaign for the seat under the Democratic Party and said he is working with the party to reform it and make it the party he believes the people need.

“Our platform is very good for the Democratic Party, the problem is that we don’t actually back that up with solid unified support for the wonderful legislation that’s called for in our platform,” Apple said.

The DNC member said he is using many pieces from the parties pledge to focus on the issues, but does not consider himself a party-first democrat. Apple said he hopes to see voters have more choice when it comes to electing officials.

“We need to move toward genuine democracy, giving voters more than two parties to choose from and leveling the playing field financially,” Apple said. “I am a strong advocate of proportional representation and rank choice voting, because I don’t think we should be a duopoly,”

Apple said he believes his experience in the field of education, specifically civics and economics, has prepared him for the role of senator. Apple taught social studies for more than 20 years, earned his Masters in Curriculum ad Instruction and wrote a book about his hopes to reform education called, “Edutopia: A Manifestor for the Reform of Public Education.”

“I have since discovered that running for office as a retired civics teacher is as good as life gets,” Apple said. “It is unbelievably exciting to believe, as I do, that thanks to Bernie Sanders and in his own way, Donald Trump, we have shaken things up to the point where anything is possible.”

The former educator said he believes public education needs to be reformed, saying he is against current charter school bills making their way through Missouri legislatures, but would like to see schools allowed to educate with more freedom.

“I favor doing away with all of the rest of educational bureaucracy, and I favor the students having more control over their education along with their parents,” Apple said. “I think public education should be focused on developing civic skills, critical thinking skills; a liberal arts education and all the things that support what should be available to every person in this country at every age.
Public education was just one of the issues Apple spoke on at Saturday night’s dinner. The candidate also discussed his view on renewable energy, believing that the increase in clean energy in Missouri would contribute to more jobs for workers.

“Some of the rural issues affect this area,” Apple said. “On a positive note, some of the wind turbines that dot the landscape up here are the hope of the future. We’ve got to move to clean, renewable energy, and northwest Missouri is uniquely positioned to take advantage of that.”

Apple said if he were elected to the House, he would like to be involved in legislation that would help working class citizens.

“The biggest (bill) would be a full employment act that guarantees every worker a job that, and I’m quoting the democratic party platform party here, to raise a family and live in dignity with a sense of purpose,” Apple said. “I’d like to see a public option added to health insurance which I believe would lead in short order to single-payer health care which is the ultimate goal.”