GOP looks to future at Lincoln Day event

About 250 people attended the 42nd annual Cape Girardeau County Lincoln Day celebration Saturday night at Ray's Plaza Conference Center to show their support for the Republican Party and to meet Republican officeholders.

"The dinner is our annual celebration," said Holly Lintner, president of the Cape Girardeau County Republican Women's Club, which coordinated the event. "It's a celebration of all Republicans and a way for us to remember our history."

U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner

The master of ceremonies for the dinner was Ed Martin, chairman of the Missouri Republican Party and the party's nominee for attorney general in 2012.

"In the coming years, we have to make Missouri better," Martin told the GOP faithful. "That goes for making a better America, too."

State Auditor Tom Schweich echoed Martin's sentiments.

"We need to be unified as a party in 2014," Schweich said. "Every person in this room is better than Barack Obama. I believe that."

The theme of the Republican Party being alive and well was struck by Missouri House Speaker Tim Jones.

U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas

"With our majorities in both the House and Senate in Jefferson City, there's little Gov. Nixon can do without our consent," Jones said.

Jones noted the race for the 8th Congressional District seat and praised the character and work ethic of state Rep. Jason Smith, the Republican nominee.

"If there's nothing else we do all year, we need to send Jason Smith to Congress," Jones said.

Smith, from Salem, Mo., is speaker pro tem of the Missouri House of Representatives. In February, he was nominated to run for the 8th District seat, which was vacated by former representative Jo Ann Emerson who resigned in January to become president and CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Smith, who was a featured speaker, said his experience running his family farm and a small business are needed qualities in Congress.

"I know what it's like to sign the front of a paycheck as well as the back," Smith said. "We need more people like that in Washington."

When he spoke of why he is running for Congress, Smith said he was tired of seeing the nation's problems being kicked down the road. He also mentioned what he tells people who wonder if he has enough experience.

"Washington is full of people with experience," he said, "and it's not working. I have common-sense Missouri values. We actually balance the budget here."

Other featured speakers were U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas, a Republican who represents Oklahoma's 3rd Congressional District and chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, and U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, who is serving her first term representing Missouri's 2nd District.

Local Republican officials who spoke during the dinner were state Sen. Wayne Wallingford and state Reps. Donna Lichtenegger and Kathy Swan.

Special awards given to party members were the Meritorious Service Award, presented to Kristi King; the Tough Tusk Award, presented to Cape Girardeau County Auditor Pete Frazier; the Bill Emerson Public Service Award, presented to former Cape Girardeau County Public Administrator Phyllis V. Schwab; and the H. Weldon Macke Statesman Award, presented to former state Rep. Mary Kasten.

klewis@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

3257 William St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.