Jacob Scott has been a familiar face in the Missouri Capitol since 2014, as he has become one of the top young staffers on the Senate side of the building.
His auspicious start in politics began at a young age – so young, Scott does not know precisely when the interest took hold.
“I had always been interested in politics as far as I remember,” Scott said. “I remember watching the news at an abnormally young age and trying to stay up to date on current events.”
From there, he went on to join the Savannah High School Debate and Forensics Team, where he had a fair amount of success. As he moved into college at Missouri Western State University, he got involved in student government, eventually becoming the student body president on top of his participation in Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.
However, Scott launched his political career at the capitol when he became involved as the deputy campaign manager for Sen. Rob Schaaf in his 2014 re-election over Robert Stuber, which Schaaf won by over 12 points. Schaaf then offered him a job as a legislative assistant in his office. Scott accepted, and said he learned a lot under a man who has become one of the most divisive and central figures in the Missouri legislature.
“He’s an individual that is incredibly smart and I learned a lot from him policy-wise,” Scott said. “He’s also a person that doesn’t make you feel like you work for him, he makes you feel like you work with him on things and that’s always been an advantage.”
After two years working as a legislative assistant for Sen. Rob Schaaf, Scott took on an expanded role this session as incoming freshman Sen. Bill Eigel’s chief of staff.
Scott says he likes working for Eigel because the senator is a “fantastic person to work for.”
“The great thing about working for Sen. Eigel is that I have a few years of legislative experience I can bring to the table for someone who’s never been in official politics before,” Scott said. “He’s never been in elected office, and we really get to be partners to tackle some of the big issues that he’s passionate about.”
The feeling goes both ways. Eigel said that Scott has been a major asset in his first year as a lawmaker.
“Everyone likes and knows him, so it makes it much easier for a guy like me to come in and be effective when I’ve got a partner in my office that has already built those relationships,” Eigel said. “As a new legislator, there is probably nothing I take advantage of more than the contacts and relationships Jacob has already started. He’s been critical in that sense.”
Outside of his work in the government, Scott still finds time for politics. He volunteers for a nonprofit called Take Back Our Republic, a group whose stated purpose is to change campaign financing to give more power to individuals rather than corporations and labor unions. He serves as a regional coordinator for several states, including Missouri.
Aside from that, he tries to take time to hang out with friends and have some reprieve from politics, but he always remembers why he decided to serve in the first place.
“What’s essential is to have focus on why we’re here, and the purpose that we’re here for is to do good for the people of Missouri,” Scott said. “I’ve never lost sight of the important work that we do here, and the privilege that it is for a senator.”
