Rep. Dennis Bonner, a Democrat, represents part of the cities of Independence and Kansas City, the city of Sugar Creek, and the communities of Blue Summit and River Bend (District 51) in the Missouri House of Representatives.

Rep. Bonner is a 1982 graduate of William Chrisman High School in Independence. He received a bachelor of arts degree in history in 1992 from the University of Missouri - Kansas City, and a master's degree in public administration in 1994 from the Bloch School of Business, also at the University of Missouri - Kansas City. He is currently attending the University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School.

He is a veteran of the U.S. Army, and formerly served as a member of the Missouri Army National Guard, holding the rank of master sergeant (E-8).

Rep. Bonner served from 1994 to 1996 as the Missouri State Democratic Committeeman (District 11) for the Missouri Democratic Party. He belongs to the Jackson County Historical Society and the American Legion (Conboy Nichols Post #340 in Sugar Creek). He is a founding board member for the Northwest Communities Development Corporation and serves on the Citizens Advisory Board for Community Services League.

Born March 14, 1964, in Springfield, Rep. Bonner currently resides in Independence with his wife, Sherry.