Local state lawmakers face election challenges

Two local state lawmakers face opposition this election year.

State Sen. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau, faces a challenge from Democratic candidate Donnie Owens of Marquand, Missouri. State Rep. Kathy Swan, R-Cape Girardeau, is opposed by longtime Libertarian Greg Tlapek.

Owens filed Monday with the Missouri Secretary of State’s office in Jefferson City. Tlapek filed Tuesday, the final day of filing for the August primary and November general elections.

Owens, a semiretired truck driver, ran for the same 27th District Senate seat 12 years ago, losing to Republican Jason Crowell.

The Democratic candidate said he is running again because he “would like to represent the working-class people.”

Wayne Wallingford

Owens said he won’t accept campaign donations and doesn’t plan to spend a lot of money in his bid to unseat Wallingford.

“I don’t have $300,000 to spend for a $36,000-a-year job,” Owens said.

He said, “If people want someone to work for them, that would be me.”

He said he favors raising the minimum wage.

“Ordinary people don’t have a voice in our government right now,” he said.

Greg Tlapek

The candidate, who owns a 110-acre farm, said he owns guns and supports gun rights.

He added he regularly shoots his guns with friends and family on his property on weekends.

“It is like a free-fire zone,” he said.

The 27th Senate District encompasses Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Madison, Perry, Scott and Wayne counties.

Tlapek, a Cape Girardeau resident, ran against Swan two years ago, finishing third in a three-way race. He could not be reached for comment.

Kathy Swan

The most contested state representative race in the area is in the 145th District, where five candidates are running for an open seat, including two Republicans. Democrat Ronald Pember of Fredericktown is unopposed in the August primary, as is Constitution Party candidate Victoria “Tori” Proffer of Fredericktown.

They will be challenged in November by the winner of the August primary contest between Perryville Republicans Rick Francis and Chad Unterreiner.

The district covers Bollinger and Madison counties and part of Perry County.

State Reps. Donna Lichtenegger of Jackson and Holly Rehder of Sikeston are unopposed for re-election.

In Cape Girardeau County, there are three contested races, all which will be decided in the Republican primary in August.

Cape Girardeau County Sheriff John Jordan faces a challenge from former Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent Dave Diveley. District 1 Associate Commissioner Paul Koeper faces a challenge from Shawn Peetz of rural Jackson. Public Administrator Lisa Reitzel is opposed by Susan Beard of rural Jackson.

District 2 Associate Commissioner Charles Herbst, Assessor Bob Adams, Treasurer Roger Hudson and Coroner John Clifton are unopposed. All are Republicans.

In Scott County, Democratic Sheriff Rick Walter faces a challenge from Democratic candidate Ron Merideth of Sikeston and Republicans Greg Ourth of Oran and Wes Drury of Kelso.

First District Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn, a Democrat, faces a challenge from Republican John Graham of Sikeston.

In Perry County, voters will decide contested races for two county commission seats and for coroner.

Five candidates are running for the 1st District associate commissioner seat: Republicans Tim Brewer, Jay Wengert and Ryan Robins; and Democrats Ken McGraw Jr. and Marion Brown.

All five reside in Perryville. The winner will replace incumbent Patrick Heaps, who is not seeking re-election.

District 2 Associate Commissioner James L. “Jim” Sutterer is being challenged in the Republican primary by Dan Miesner of Frohna and Richard “Dick” Martens of Perryville. The winner of the August primary will be unopposed in the general election.

In the coroner’s race, Democrat Jim Martin, recently appointed to fill an unexpired term, is challenged by Republican William “Bill” Bohnert of Perryville.

In Bollinger County, there are three contested races.

The most contested race is for 2nd District associate commissioner.

Three Republicans and two Democrats are vying to replace incumbent Steve Jordan, who is not seeking re-election.

The candidates include Republicans Nick Hendricks and Roy Garner of Marble Hill and Leo Arnzen of Leopold. Democratic candidates are Eldon Thorne of Leopold and Greg Ellis of Sedgewickville.

First District Associate Commissioner James Null is challenged by Roger VanGennip of Zalma in the Republican primary.

The winner will be unopposed in the November election.

Bollinger County Coroner Charles Hutchings faces opposition in the Republican primary from J. Micah Bristow of Marble Hill.

On the federal level, 8th District U.S. Rep. Jason Smith faces three challengers in the Republican primary: Hal Brown of Cape Girardeau, Phillip Smith of Gatewood and Todd Mahn of De Soto.

The winner will face Democrat Dave Cowell of Farmington and Libertarian Jonathan Shell of Fredericktown in the November election.

mbliss@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641