Rep. Glenda Kelly, a Democrat, represents part of Buchanan County (District 27) in the Missouri House of Representatives. She was elected to her first term in 1994.

Some of Rep. Kelly's legislative successes include the Safe Schools Act, which provides both alternative education courses and tougher penalties for disruptive or violent students; 48 hour maternity benefits, requiring insurance coverage for longer maternity stays for mothers and their newborns; economic development to distressed communities through tax credits and legislation authorizing open adoption in Missouri.

Rep. Kelly was a legal secretary in St. Joseph from 1960-89. Before being elected to the House, Rep. Kelly was the mayor of St. Joseph from 1991-94. She served on the St. Joseph City Council and as deputy mayor from 1986-91.

Rep. Kelly has served on the Buchanan County Social Welfare board; the YWCA board; the Pony Express Association Historical board; the St. Joseph Historical Society board; Missouri Municipal League; the founding task forces for the YWCA Women’s Abuse Shelter; and the Second Harvest Food Bank. She also served as president of the St. Joseph Area League of Women Voters, and secretary of the Women Legislators of Missouri. Rep. Kelly is a member of the Northwest Missouri Progressive Democrats; the Buchanan County Democrat Club; and the ABCD Women’s Democrat Club.

Awards received by Rep. Kelly include the James C. Kirkpatrick Good Government/NWMO Press Association award; the St. Joseph Landmarks Commission Historic Preservation Leadership award; the Alliance for Stronger Families’ Adoption and Foster Care Coalition of Missouri award; the Missouri Western State College Distinguished Alumni award; Citizens for Missouri's Children--Hero for Kids; MWSC Honorary Doctor of Education degree; The Missouri Bar and Missouri State Medical Association.

Born on June 3, 1944, Rep. Kelly is a 1989 graduate of Missouri Western State College. She currently resides in St. Joseph with her husband, Dennis. They have two children, Gina Wolf and Chad Campbell and four grandchildren: Megan and Brie Wolf and Zachary and Sydney Campbell.