NEWSLINE: DEMOCRATS TAP WILLIAMS IN 156TH

MARBLE HILL -- Democrat Marilyn Williams of Dudley will face Republican Jerry Seabaugh of Dexter in a special election Feb. 19 for state representative of the 156th District.

Democrats met here Tuesday night and chose Williams over three other nominees: John Shock of Bloomfield, Frances Phillips of Dexter and Charles Hawn of Marble Hill.

Williams is part-owner and operator of Fiddlers and Fishermans Net restaurants in Southeast Missouri. Her husband, Rick, is a farmer.

Republicans tapped Seabaugh for the nomination at a meeting Monday night.

The election is being held to choose a successor to Jerry Howard, who was elected to a vacancy in the Missouri Senate Dec. 4.