About Geoff

“The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

When Geoff’s grandmother, Georgia, gave him a small gift with an obscure quote from a philosopher he knew little about, it stuck with him. By the age 16, the short and shy kid from the suburbs of east Kansas City had developed into an ambitious and bold leader. He began to recognize the truth in Emerson’s words: once you have the vision, you are capable of achieving success.

It was at that point Geoff knew public service was his one true calling in life. By the time he graduated from Raytown High School, Geoff was an All-State athlete, outstanding student, and nationally accomplished debater that was twice elected by his peers to executive student governance. Beyond the walls of RHS, he was already active in bettering his community, serving as the youngest member of a task-force charged with securing new funding sources for the Raytown School District and creating a better, safer learning environment for the students.

Success and a desire to serve followed him to the University of Missouri-Kansas City where he served with distinction for four years as a student leader and representative of the Kansas City campus to the UM System, the Board of Curators, and the highest levels of State Government. After serving as the President Pro-Tem of the Student Senate and one semester as the Executive Vice President, Geoff was twice elected by landslide margins to serve as President of the 13,000+ student body. Geoff worked closely with administrators, curators, and government officials to represent student’s interests, act as an agent of change, and forge a better future for all members of the UMKC community. In his final year, he was charged with coordinating the legislative efforts of the 30-year old student-run government relations group the Associated Students of the University of Missouri (ASUM), which gave him a deeper knowledge of, direct interaction with, and greater impact upon the Missouri General Assembly. His name and work was rarely unheard in state government.

Geoff also worked as an intern with the University’s Government Relations office and, after completing his academic work in Interpersonal Communications and Psychology, chose to stay in Kansas City, the only place he has ever called home. His professional focus has been in not-for-profit fundraising first with the nationally recognized Pennington and Company based in Lawrence and now as the Director of Development for the Unicorn Theatre in mid-town KC. Now, after many years of political activism and volunteering, he has been encouraged to seek his first public office and bring positive change to his native city and state.

Geoff is very proud of the fact that he was born, raised, educated, and has remained deeply integrated in Kansas City. He lives just north of Martin City, has been an active member and volunteer with St. Regis and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic parrishes, served 10 years as a staff member with the American Legion Boys State of Missouri, is a member of the Grandview Chamber of Commerce, and serves as a board member for the Committee for County Progress.  He also volunteers his time with the National Forensics League, is a member of the Sierra Club, Summit Democratic Club, Mizzou Alumni Association, the Sons of the American Legion, and is a registered official with the Missouri State High School Activities Association.

When not working in the community, you can see him cheering on the Royals, Chiefs, and Missouri athletics.

I consider myself socially progressive and fiscally conservative.  Missouri should be a place where all citizens have an equal opportunity to succeed and enjoy freedom while elected officials act as responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.  Listed on the ISSUES page are some of the issues that I believe are most important to the state today, regardless of personal politics.

Geoff Gerling has been endorsed by the following organizations: Committee for County Progress (Jackson County's oldest and largest political club), Greater Kansas City Progressive Women's Coalition, KC Pride Democratic Club (supporting LGBT issues across the area), NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri, Planned Parenthood, Missouri Progressive Vote Coalition (member groups include AFSCME Council 72, American Federation of Teachers #420, Missouri Federation of Teachers Local 691, Democracy for Missouri, Missouri National Educational Association PAC, PROMO, SEIU State Council, Teamsters Joint Council 13, Communication Workers of America KC Council, and others).