GOP candidate for secretary of state talks to voters in Cape Girardeau

A Republican candidate for Missouri Secretary of State visited a Cape Girardeau breakfast joint Friday to talk to voters.

Bill Stouffer was at Sands Pancake House for a meet-and-greet Friday morning. Stouffer is currently a Republican state senator representing the 21st District.

"Secretary of state is an office that affects everybody, and it seems nobody knows what it does," Stouffer said.

Stouffer sat at a table of about 12 people and spoke with voters over breakfast.

The secretary of state, Stouffer said, registers businesses, regulates securities industries, runs the notary public, supports the state archives and library system and oversees elections.

"I'm a firm believer in photo ID at the ballot box," Stouffer said, "It just makes sense to me. You have to show photo ID everywhere else in our society. I'd work to ensure we have fair, concise and straightforward voting procedures and ballots. As chief election officer, I think you ought to leave politics at the door."

Stouffer said he thought he had a reasonable chance of winning the election. Stouffer is running against Shane Schoeller and Scott Rupp. Schoeller is a state representative from the 139th District, near Springfield. Rupp represents the 2nd District, the St. Charles, area in the Missouri Senate.

The primary election will be held Aug. 7 with the general election Nov. 6.

"I think it'll be a 1 percent to 2 percent difference between us once the votes are counted, but I think I have a good shot," Stouffer said.

Stouffer is from Marshall, Mo., the Saline County seat.

rovermann@semissourian.com

388-3688

Pertinent address:

1448 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, MO