Former Jackson football coach to run for House seat

Saying he still has some "fight left" in him, former Jackson football coach Van Hitt announced his intentions Tuesday to run for the Missouri House seat occupied by Rep. Donna Lichtenegger.

Hitt's decision, which surprised his fellow House hopefuls, sets up a possible three-way Republican primary with Lichtenegger and Jackson School Board member Gerald Adams.

"I'm not ready to retire, quit and stay at home," Hitt said. "To be frank, my coaching career came to an abrupt end. Truthfully, I feel like I've got some fight left in me."

Hitt, 64, resigned in November from a coaching career that spanned four decades and five schools after the Jackson administrators called on him to do so. Hitt was varsity coach in Jackson for four years and an assistant for 29 years.

He still works as director of the alternative school on a part-time basis.

When school administrators asked Hitt to resign, they cited three straight losing seasons when the Indians accumulated just six wins. He has also taught and coached in the Missouri cities of Hannibal, Herculaneum and Cape Girardeau and as a graduate assistant at Truman State University.

The way he was dismissed didn't sit well with him, Hitt said, and his thoughts turned to ways he could make a contribution to society. With encouragement from his wife, Donna, he decided to run for the newly redrawn 146th House District.

"This may sound kind of corny, but I've always wanted to make a difference," Hitt said.

Lichtenegger and Adams, who faced each other in the 2010 race, both said they were surprised that Hitt had decided to run.

"I had not heard that Van was going to do that," Lichtenegger said. "But this is politics and nothing should surprise me anymore. But if he wants to run, that's fine."

Adams, who had already heard that Hitt was going to run, said it was a surprise to everyone else he has talked to. Adams was also puzzled why someone who had never sought office or voiced public political opinions would want to run.

"As far as I know, he's never been involved in politics before -- either at the state or the local level," Adams said. "It's really a total shock to me. This is really just coming out of the blue."

Adams, a 14-year member of the school board, acknowledged that he worries that Hitt could split the teacher vote and give an edge to the Lichtenegger campaign. Both Hitt and Adams also have agricultural roots. Adams and Hitt both grew up in the country, and Adams had a dairy farm. Hitt still raises cattle in rural Cape Girardeau County.

"That was the first thing I thought of -- the rural vote and the education vote," Adams said.

When asked if Hitt's entrance into the race gave Lichtenegger an advantage, Adams said, "I would think that's very correct."

Hitt, who has a bachelor's in education and a master's in secondary school administration, dismissed the notion that he may want to retaliate against a member of the school board who may have had a hand in his dismissal.

"No, supposedly the board didn't even know about it," Hitt said. "I've known Gerald for many years. I've coached his sons. I think he's an upstanding part of our community."

Hitt said he's simply looking to make a difference. He acknowledges he doesn't have political experience, but he thinks that may be refreshing to a certain segment of voters.

"I don't have an agenda," Hitt said. "What I want to do is represent the people in this area in a very fair and honest way."

Filing begins Feb. 28 for the Aug. 7 primary.

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