I would like to run for a seat in the Missouri house of representatives. The qualifications require that:
" The candidate has not been found guilty of or pled guilty to a felony or misdemeanor under the federal laws of the United States of America.
Has not been convicted of or found guilty of or pled guilty to a felony under the laws of Missouri."
12 years ago I was charged with a misdemeanor, at the state level, of possession of marijuana.
My question is: Does my charge disqualify me?
I'm confused because there are two ways I can see one could interpret the qualifications.
The first way of looking at it is; If the charge is at the state level, then any misdemeanor would be OK. Only felonies would be a concern. But if the charge was filed at the federal level, then all misdemeanors and felonies are a disqualifying.
The second way of looking at it is; regardless of whether or not the charge was filed at state or federal level, if the charge would be considered a misdemeanor under federal law, then it's disqualifying (even if filed at state level).
But if it's the second way of looking at it, then the second qualification is redundant, since any missouri felony would equate to at least a federal misdemeanor or felony.
