Former Emerson campaign staffer announces bid for state rep

Holly Rehder is ready to step out from behind the scenes. The former campaign staffer for U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson has announced her intention to run next year for the 160th House District seat.

Rehder said she mailed off her campaign filing form to the Missouri Ethics Commission on Tuesday. This will mark the first time Rehder, 41, has sought public office.

"I don't want to sit on the sidelines anymore," Rehder said.

Rehder, a Republican, is the first to declare her candidacy to take over a seat currently held by state Rep. Ellen Brandom, R-Sikeston. Brandom announced last month that she will run for the Missouri Senate seat being vacated by Jason Crowell, a Cape Girardeau Republican who is forced out by term limits.

The 160th includes portions of Cape Girardeau, New Madrid and Scott counties.

Rehder and her husband Ray are owners of Integrity Communications, a cable communications company. Rehder also works as a government affairs consultant for the Missouri Cable Television Association, which included a three-year stint as a lobbyist.

She also worked on two of U.S. Emerson's campaigns and Brandom's first campaign. She also has spent time in Jefferson City as part of her duties for MCTA and representing her business interests, she said.

"I noticed there are not a whole heck of a lot of folks there who are business owners," she said.

"We need people there who have made a payroll, worked with a budget. When things get tight with our business, we don't keep spending. We cut stuff out."

Rehder plans to campaign on a platform that includes making Missouri a right-to-work state, which would

prohibit agreements between labor unions and employers that make union membership or payment of dues a condition of employment.

Rehder would also like to see the prevailing wage law removed or modified. Missouri's Prevailing Wage Law establishes a minimum wage rate that must be paid to workers on public works construction projects in Missouri, such as bridges, roads and government buildings.

Emerson spoke highly of her former staffer in a news release announcing Rehder's candidacy: "She will bring a common sense conservative voice to Jefferson City."

She will be a tremendous advantage for the people of her district and I'm excited to see her take on this new challenge."

smoyers@semissourian.com

388-3642

address:

Sikeston, MO