Local Missouri House member announces he'll seek re-election

DEXTER, Mo. -- Rep. Billy Pat Wright, who represents part of Cape Girardeau, Stoddard and Wayne counties, has announced his intention to run for a fourth and final term in the Missouri House of Representatives.

Wright, a Dexter resident, was first elected to the House in 2004 and holds posts on several committees, including a position as vice chairman of the Agriculture Policy Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations Committee in General Administration, the Joint Committee on Wetlands, the Special Committee on Veterans and the Special Committee on Utilities.

State representatives in Missouri are limited to four two-year terms. If elected, the 2011-2012 term will be Wright's final stretch in the House.

"There is still work to do," Wright said in making his announcement this week, "and I am asking District 159 constituents to allow me to once again serve them in a final term as their representative so that I might be granted the opportunity to finalize several plans that remain in the works in the House."

The election will take place in November 2010. No other candidates have announced plans to seek Wright's seat.