GOP picks Farmington mayor to compete in 106th District

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Farmington Mayor Kevin Engler will be the replacement Republican candidate for the 106th District seat in the House of Representatives.

The district's Republican committee, which included members from Perry, Ste. Genevieve and St. Francois counties, picked Engler over two other nominees -- Cecilia Fallert of Perryville and Carol Gamble of Farmington.

The exact result of the vote was not announced.

Incumbent state Rep. Tom Burcham of Farmington sought and received a court order last week removing his name from the Nov. 5 ballot following his second drunken driving arrest in five months.

Farmington City Councilman Dennis W. Smith, a Democrat, and independent Elbert Bohnert of Perryville are also seeking the seat.

Party's best chance

Engler, a broker with Edward Jones Co., was the favorite of state Republican officials who felt he had the best chance of keeping the district, which is dominated by St. Francois County, in GOP hands.

Fallert, a former newspaper reporter and teacher, had challenged Burcham in the August party primary but captured less than 30 percent of the vote.

Gamble is a former member of the Farmington school board.

Engler said his first step will be to reach out to voters in Perry and Ste. Genevieve counties, particularly those who supported Fallert. Legislative redistricting for the first time put portions of those counties in a district with Farmington.

Convincing others

"I have got to prove to them I will work just as hard for the 106th District as I do for Farmington," Engler said.

Engler said his key issues will be tort reform, opposition to abortion, gun owner rights and transportation funding.

Engler called Smith a "great guy" for whom he has the utmost respect but said "his party is going to represent things the people of the 106th District aren't for."

Smith said he doesn't expect Engler's candidacy to impact relations on the city council.

While Engler's late entry and the departure of the incumbent from the race give Smith an advantage, Smith said his campaign strategy hasn't changed.

"We are still spending a lot of time out knocking on doors," Smith said.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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