REP. CARL BEARDEN, 93rd General Assembly — Rep. Carl Bearden, a Republican and Speaker Pro Tem, represents part of St. Charles County (District 16) in the Missouri House of Representatives.

Elected to the House in 2000, Rep. Bearden is a self-employed consultant.

A member of the St. Peters Chamber of Commerce, American Legislative Exchange Council - Tax and Fiscal Policy Commission, Lewis and Clark Discovery Expedition Board and the St. Charles Pachyderm Club, Rep. Bearden attends the First Baptist Church in Harvester. Elected in 1992, Rep. Bearden served eight years on the St. Charles County Council, including three years as chairman. He also served six years on the Missouri Association of Counties board of directors, serving as chairman of the Juvenile Employee Subcommittee, as a member of the Executive Committee of the East Central Solid Waste District, the St. Charles County Master Plan 2010 committee, the St. Charles County Charter Review Commission, and was founder of the Management and Fiscal Policy Commission.

A 1974 graduate of Clearwater R-I High School in Piedmont, Mo., Rep. Bearden received a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial technology from SIU-Carbondale in 1978. Upon Graduation from college he served six years in the United States Air Force.

Representative Bearden has received the following recognition:
Missouri Association of Counties, County Advocate Award
St. Charles County Ambulance District, "Commitment of Excellence" Award
National Republican Legislators Association, Freshman of the Year Award
St. Louis Business Journal, Legislative Award, 2002 & 2003
The Children & Family Services Authority of St. Charles County, Certificate of Appreciation
Elks National Veterans Service Commission, Thanks Vets Certificate of Appreciation
Missouri Farm Bureau, Friend of Agriculture Award
SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, Our Love For Kids Just Keeps on Growing Award
Missouri Assessors Association, Appreciation Award
Associated Industries of Missouri, Missouri House of Representatives Voice of Missouri Business Award
St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association, Lewis & Clark Statesman Award
Mo. Community Colleges Association, Missouri House of Representatives Distinguished Legislator Award
Crider Center for Mental Health, Heroes for Mental Health Award
Missouri Library Association, The Francis (Bud) Barnes Outstanding Legislator Award
First ever Missouri State Troopers Association Bronzed Campaign Hat Appreciation Award

Rep. Bearden was appointed to serve as Budget Chairman during his second term of service in the legislature. Bearden led the charge to balance Missouri’s $19 billion state budget through increased efficiency and elimination of waste, fraud, and abuse. Bearden stood firm in his position against unnecessary tax increases that would have driven Missouri jobs to neighboring states, and provided the largest education budget in state history.

Born January 18, 1956 in St. Louis, Rep. Bearden lives in an unincorporated part of St. Charles County with his wife, Debbie. They have two children, Amber and Allison, and a son-in-law, Mike Chavez.