Page running for Missouri lieutenant governor

VAN BUREN, Mo. (AP) -- Democratic House member Sam Page entered the race for lieutenant governor Monday.

Page, 42, a doctor from Creve Coeur, was first elected to the Legislature in 2002. He officially announced his candidacy Monday from the auditorium of Van Buren High School, his alma mater, and had other stops planned around the state Monday and Tuesday.

Page told about 50 supporters that he's running for lieutenant governor in part because he wants to change people's cynicism toward government and the feeling that it doesn't represent them, the Poplar Bluff Daily American Republic reported.

Page said his top issues include health care for veterans and education.

Under term limits, Page could have run for his House seat one more time, but would have been done in 2010.

The current lieutenant governor, Republican Peter Kinder, is a former state senator from Cape Girardeau and was elected in 2004. Kinder has indicated he's seeking re-election in 2008.

Another Democratic House member, Rep. Jim Whorton of Trenton, has said he's also considering running for the second-highest statewide office in Missouri, as are some other lawmakers.