Senator Ryan McKenna was first elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1998, and was re-elected in 2000, 2002, and 2004.  He was elected to the Missouri Senate in 2006, and represents the 22nd Senate District, which covers the northern half of Jefferson County. 

Senator McKenna a third generation legislator.  His grandfather, J. Glennon McKenna, was elected to the Missouri House in 1940 and served until the beginning of World War II.  He resigned shortly after the Japanese attack and joined the United States Navy.  Ryan’s father, William (Bill) McKenna, served for 16 years in the Missouri House and Senate from 1982 through 1998.  He was chosen by his peers to lead the Senate as President Pro Tem during the 89th General Assembly.  His family is the only in recent history to have three generations serve in the Missouri House of Representatives. 

Senator McKenna continues his family’s tradition of working to improve Missouri by representing the interests of northern Jefferson County and the entire state.  In the House of Representatives, he was instrumental in creating the Jefferson County Municipal Court and the Nuisance and Abatement Ordinance Authority.  He led the way in establishing and funding the Jefferson County Assessment Center, which helps children who may have been physically or sexually abused.

In the Senate, Senator McKenna’s priorities range from providing more accessible healthcare to improving Missouri’s roads.  He continues to represent the interests of Jefferson County, successfully passing legislation to expand the reach of the Jefferson County Municipal Court, allowing voters to approve the consolidation of fire protection districts, and allowing existing county library districts to expand.  His goals for the 2010 legislative session include expanding the recently passed texting while driving ban to all ages and passing meaningful healthcare reform to provide coverage to more low-income Missourians.  

Senator Ryan McKenna has lived in Jefferson County his entire life and graduated from St. Pius X High School in the Twin City area.  He attended Jefferson College and played on their State Championship baseball team in 1993, which ranked number 5 in the nation.  He is a 1996 graduate of Missouri State University (formerly Southwest Missouri State University), where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. 

After college Senator McKenna worked as a union laborer for Fred Weber, Inc., on highway and bridge construction before entering public service.  In 2003, he married Angela Adams.  The couple lives in Crystal City.

Senator McKenna was on the board of directors of the “Kids House,” a home for abused and neglected children, from 1997 to 2004 and served as an elected board member of the Glaize Creek Public Sewer District from 1997 to 2005.  He is a construction marketing representative for Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust (LECET) and is also a member of the Festus Elks Club and Jefferson County Democratic Club.

Senator McKenna has been recognized by the Jefferson County Disability Community, the Fraternal Order of Police, the Missouri Community College Association and appeared in St. Louis Magazine as one of St. Louis’ “Most Magnetic People.”  He has also recently been recognized by the Missouri Restaurant Association and Missouri Association of Veterans Organizations.  On three occasions, he was a recipient of a Legislative Award from the St. Louis Business Journal.