JEFFERSON CITY -- Declaring that citizens of Cape Girardeau need a strong voice in Jefferson City, Melinda Benton McCulley filed late Tuesday for the 158th District state representative seat.
Filing on the Democratic ticket, McCulley will challenge veteran Rep. Mary C. Kasten, who is seeking her seventh two-year term in the Missouri House.
"I have worked in the legislature in Jefferson City and I know how the system works," said McCulley. "I know how to get things done. As a conservative Democrat, a member of the majority party, I would be in a position to bring to Cape Girardeau those things that our citizens deserve from the state government and the $12 billion budget," said McCulley.
"I have talked with a number of concerned citizens in this community from both party affiliations, and they have asked me to seriously consider running," she said.
This time last year McCulley was working in Jefferson City as a legislative assistant to Kasten. McCulley worked for Kasten for three years, including two years in the capitol office.
She quit working for Kasten last summer.
McCulley said she has the qualifications and experience to be an effective voice for the city in Jefferson City.
The 158th District includes all of the city of Cape Girardeau except for Ward 17.
As a representative, McCulley said she would work hard toward furthering economic development in the community. Said McCulley, "I love this city, but it disturbs me that we have experienced so little growth over the last 10 years."
McCulley said she can provide a bridge between residents of the city and state agencies.
"A state representative must be able to negotiate for the district and the citizens when they encounter snags in state government," she said.
For the last 10 years, McCulley has been involved with a program for new city residents called "Welcome To Cape," which she developed. The service has been endorsed by the Chamber of Commerce.
Through the art of puppetry, she teaches area children weekly as pre-operative patients at Southeast Missouri Hospital. She has also worked through other programs including the Southeast Missouri Council on the Arts and the Community Counseling Center.
Her husband, Ronald L. McCulley, owns and operates Sunshine Villa Residential Care Facility II in Scott City, and is chairman of the board of directors of the Regional Commerce and Growth Association.
She has one son, Doug Benton, and they attend First Assembly of God Church in Cape Girardeau.
McCulley was educated at Southeast Missouri State University and employed the last three years by the Missouri House of Representatives. She is involved in community activities and serves as Democratic committeewoman for Ward 3.
She is a charter member of the American Business Women's Association, a member of the RCGA, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW.
For Kasten, who was first elected in 1982, this is the first time she has had opposition for her House seat since 1986.
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