Blunt sets Feb. 5 for special election to fill House seat

Gov. Matt Blunt set an election date of Feb. 5 to fill Cape Girardeau's seat in the Missouri House.

The 158th District seat became vacant Aug. 14 when Nathan Cooper, a Republican, resigned after pleading guilty to two federal felony counts for immigration fraud.

The day chosen for the election is the same day as Missouri's presidential primary and the next date when voters across the state will go to the polls. In addition to the election in Cape Girardeau, Blunt called for special elections in the 16th District Missouri House seat in St. Charles County and the 65th District Missouri House seat in St. Louis.

Blunt could have set the election for any date he chose, with the only restriction that it be at least 10 weeks from the time it was set. The cost of the election is paid by the state.

The election announcement was sent out late today. No one from Blunt's office was immediately available to comment on the reason for holding the election in February.

Missouri lawmakers are in special session this week. They return to Jefferson City for their regular session in early January.

So far two Democrats, former postmaster Mike Keefe and 2006 candidate Matt Hill, a lawyer, have expressed interest in running for the post. On the Republican side, Eugene "Pete" Frazier, an unsuccessful candidate for the GOP nomination in 2004, and Mayor Jay Knudtson have said they are considering the race.

Candidates for the special election will be chosen by the political party committees in the Republican, Democratic and Libertarian parties. Independent candidates wishing to run must file a petition with the secretary of state's office.

For updates, check back at www.semissourian.com or read Saturday's Southeast Missourian.