Born in Lexington, Missouri, he graduated from the University of Central Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Accounting/Political Science and from the Bloch School at the University of Missouri–Kansas City with an Master of Public Administration in Health Care Administration.
A Democrat, he served eight years in the Missouri House of Representatives representing Kansas City and became the first openly gay member ever elected to the Missouri General Assembly. He is now the Vice President for Government and Community Relations for Saint Luke"s Health System. He was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1994.
He then faced only a Libertarian opponent in the general election, winning easily and taking office the following January.
He was subsequently re-elected in 1996, 1998, and in 2000. Term limits prevented him from seeking re-election in 2002.
In the legislature, Van Zandt chaired the House Tobacco Settlement Committee and vice-chaired the House Committees on Urban Affairs, and Ways and Means. Van Zandt served as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1992, 1996 and 2000.
He served on the Rules Committee in 1992 and 2000, and the Platform Committee in 1996.
Jeanette Mott Oxford (Doctorate–Street Louis) and Republican Mike Colona (Doctorate–Street Louis).
In the 2009-2010 biennium, there are three openly gay members of the Missouri General Assembly: Senator. Jolie Justus (Doctorate–Kansas City), Republican
