A native of Missouri, John E. Griesheimer represents the 26th Senatorial District in the Missouri Senate, which is made up of parts of Franklin, Warren and West St. Louis counties. Elected to the Missouri Senate in 2002, Sen. Griesheimer previously served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 1992 to 2002.
As a member of the House of Representatives, he successfully passed the first state law allowing cities to regulate billboards. He co-authored and co-sponsored the toughest law regulating HMO’s in the country. He was also instrumental in the passage of the first statewide compromise between cities and rural water districts regarding territorial disputes, and worked with state and local fire and EMS officials to pass the most comprehensive EMS law in 25 years.
Sen. Griesheimer assisted with the establishment of a new Amtrak stop in Washington and worked closely with the Division of Aging to place two local nursing homes into receivership and new ownership.
In the Senate, Sen. Griesheimer serves on the following committees:
· Joint Committee on Terrorism, Bioterrorism and Homeland Security – Chairman
· Commerce and Environment – Vice-Chairman
· Economic Development, Tourism and Local Government – Vice-Chairman
· Agriculture, Conservation, Parks and Natural Resources
· Transportation
· Ways and Means
Sen. Griesheimer has been recognized for his legislative work with the Friend of Agriculture Award from the Missouri Farm Bureau; the St. Louis Optometric Association Award; the Missouri Medical Association Award; the Missouri Emergency Medical Services Association Award; the Missouri Fire Service Alliance; the Missouri Rural Water Association Award; and the Missouri Municipal League Award.
Born on July 19, 1952, in St. Clair, Sen. Griesheimer is a 1970 graduate of St. Clair High School. He graduated from East Central College in Union.
He lives in Washington with his wife Rita, and their three children, Sean, Aaron and Michelle.
Sen. Griesheimer is active in a number of civic organizations including the Washington Lions Club, the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, the Washington Elks BPO Lodge 1559, Franklin County Republican Central Committee, and the Pacific Union and Washington Area Chambers of Commerce. He currently serves as a member of the Auto Mechanics Advisory Board for the Four Rivers Vocational Technical School in Washington.