De Soto Democrat joins 8th District race

DE SOTO, Mo. -- Todd Mahn, a political newcomer who owns two funeral homes in Jefferson County, has filed to run for the 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House, meaning a pair from each political party will square off in the Aug. 7 primary.

Mahn, 41, will face another first-time politician, Jack Rushin, a chiropractor from Poplar Bluff, Mo. In the GOP, 16-year incumbent Jo Ann Emerson will face Raymondville rancher Bob Parker. The winner of each of those two contests will be opponents in the Nov. 6 general election.

"Being a funeral home owner is like being a politician," Mahn said. "You work with people in many different areas who are going through very difficult times in their lives. I've seen what's going on in the world out there and I want to try and help."

Mahn owns funeral homes in De Soto and Festus, Mo., as well as a cemetery. Until redistricting, Mahn was not in the 8th District, though he said that was not a factor in his decision.

Issues that interest him, he said, are the health care plans for congressional representatives, also noting they have been given pay raises for the past several years. Health care plans need to be modified and the raise process needs to be reformed, he said. Meanwhile, in the private sector, many are struggling to find jobs, Mahn said.

Mahn said he has no major issue with Emerson, a Cape Girardeau Republican.

"There's probably more issues that we agree on than we disagree on," he said. "I just wanted to speak about, and talk to the public about, some of the things and issues they care about."

Mahn is also chairman of the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. He was appointed to the board by then-Gov. Matt Blunt in 2005. He owns Mahn Funeral Home in De Soto and Mahn City Chapel in Festus.

His Democratic opponent, Jack Rushin, said he was not familiar with Mahn, though he said he hoped to meet him on the campaign trail. Still, Rushin called Mahn's entrance into the race a good thing.

"We're going to see what his ideas are and what he thinks the needs of the 8th District are," Rushin said. "I've got firm ideas of things that our country needs to do. It will be interesting to see his insight and his approach."

Calls to Parker's home were not returned Wednesday.

Mahn, who says he refuses to run a "mudslinging" campaign, wouldn't even go so far as to say that it's time for a change from Emerson, who has served for eight consecutive terms. He does not favor term limits, he said.

"If someone is doing a good job, then they should keep that job," Mahn said. "Jo Ann and I could sit down and talk and maybe agree on most things. It isn't about the candidates or myself, it's about giving the people a voice."

Mahn had yet to file a campaign report with the Federal Elections Commission, but he wasn't surprised to learn that Emerson had more than $200,000 in cash on hand, according to her latest filing. He acknowledged he wouldn't be able to match her dollar for dollar.

"I don't think there would be any way to compete with Mrs. Emerson in money," he said. "She's had many years to have her campaign set up. We're just going to try to get a grassroots message out there through friends and family and see what happens."

The race isn't set yet. The filing deadline in the secretary of state's office is Tuesday.

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