LAWYER TO SEEK SEAT HELD BY KASTEN

A Cape Girardeau lawyer has raised more than $30,000 to help finance his bid for state representative of the 158th District.

Jason Crowell, a Republican, announced his candidacy Monday. The filing period opens Feb. 29.

Other possible contenders are Republicans Cindie Jeter, a radio talk-show host; and Jay Purcell and Richard "Butch" Eggimann, both Cape Girardeau city councilmen.

The seat is held by Republican Mary Kasten, who is retiring at the end of the term.

Crowell said he has the support of nearly 250 people in the district and hopes to meet every resident of the district during his campaign. He said that although he is not yet required to file, he already has filed reports with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

He said voters "make a tremendous investment" in a candidate. A state representative, he said, has "a tremendous amount of power to make the rules by which they live their life."

Having worked for state Sen. Peter Kinder and the late U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, Crowell said he has insight into how government works and how it should work. While in law school he also worked for the Missouri Supreme Court and Missouri attorney general's office.

"I've been given a glimpse," he said. There are two qualities every elected official needs: an ability to listen and the ability to understand.

"I go into this knowing that I don't know everything," he said, "and I'm not too narcissistic to think that I can't learn something from everyone."

His early experience in politics will help him put those qualities to work.

"I'm not running because I'm a Republican but because I think I can make things better and do more for our community," he said.

Helping the community helps Republicans and Democrats alike, he said. Crowell said people have an obligation in life to leave everything just a little better than they found it.

He said his goals are to make Missouri a better place for everyone, whether that means helping revamp education funding or returning tax dollars back to the people who earned them.

Crowell said everyone should have opportunities. For too long people have looked to Jefferson City as the answer to problems, but there isn't a single "cookie-cutter" response to solving problems in the state, he said.

The state needs to return local control to school districts, said Crowell. "If we trust our local school boards and our parents, they will do their job," Crowell said.

He thinks schools districts should receive block funding, which would allow them to better manage construction projects, add new technology or create better salaries for attracting teachers. If those changes are made, then test scores and numbers that Jefferson City looks at will improve, he said. Teachers should be allowed to educate, not file paperwork or compliance reports.

By the same token, Missourians should be rewarded for their sacrifices and hard work that have created a booming economy. "The government didn't provide these good times," he said.

Lowering taxes would also be a priority, he said.

Programs should be ranked so that essentials like education, highway construction and health care aren't cut when the economy turns downward, Crowell said. Luxury programs and "pet programs" should be the first to be cut, he said.

Health-care issues are important, said Crowell. Women particularly have not been given flexibility for their care, he said.

Crowell said he favors some changes in the legal system. Convicted felons should serve their full sentence, not get early paroles, he said. "It boggles my mind how a person can get a 20-year sentence and serve only eight years," he said. "It doesn't make sense to me, and I know it doesn't make sense to the average citizen."

He said he would also push for ways to curb domestic violence and make the home safe for everyone. "That's going to be the decaying block that brings down the rest of the pillar of the community."

Crowell is with the Oliver, Oliver and Waltz law firm. He is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University and the University of Missouri-Columbia Law School. He is a lifelong member of Centenary United Methodist Church, Cape Girardeau Lion's Club and the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce.