Rehder's switch to 148th sets up primary contest with Bill

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Since Missouri House hopeful Holly Rehder set her sights on the legislature last summer, she's faced the possibilities of squaring off against Neal Boyd in one district and Democratic state Rep. Steve Hodges in another.

Initially, Rehder and Boyd both sought to replace Rep. Ellen Brandom, the Sikeston Republican who was bolting for the state Senate. But Boyd, the singer who won "America's Got Talent," dropped out of the original 160th District race citing health issues.

Then the state's Senate and House boundaries were redrawn and Rehder opted for a run for the new 149th District, setting up a race with Hodges, an incumbent Democrat from East Prairie, Mo.

Now, with the redistricting scramble still in full swing, Rehder has had a change of heart and now says she will run in the 148th instead of the 149th.

With the official filing period still more than a month off, Rehder's decision sets up an Aug. 7 primary contest against fellow Republican and former Sikeston, Mo., mayor Josh Bill.

Josh Bill

"This has not been an easy decision to make," said Rehder, a Republican business owner and former campaign staffer for U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson. "I have dear friends who have supported my run for office over the past five months in both districts."

The 148th includes northern Mississippi County and eastern Scott County, including Charleston, Wyatt, Anniston, Scott City, Morley, Benton and a portion of Sikeston.

Rehder, 42, originally decided to run in the 149th, which she considered a sensible move because she actually lives in its boundaries. But after her decision was made public, she said she was flooded with calls urging her to reconsider.

The existing 160th is being split into both the 148th and 149th, and Rehder has the option of running in either. The new House districts take effect with the start of the next General Assembly in January 2013.

But after studying the matter, she realized that her convictions and values more closely resembled those of the 148th, which looks to have a larger population of Republicans than the 149th, which includes the Democrat-leaning New Madrid County. She also said she took other personal factors into consideration, including praying on the matter.

"After I got so many calls, I just looked at the pros and cons of running in both districts," Rehder said. "We decided this was just the best fit for our family. And my core convictions fit better with the people of the 148th."

Rehder owns Integrity Communications, a cable communications company, with her husband, Ray. Rehder also works as a government affairs consultant for the Missouri Cable Television Association, which included a three-year stint as a lobbyist.

Rehder is campaigning on a platform that includes making Missouri a right-to-work state, and she said she would also favor removing or modifying the prevailing wage law.

After the election, Rehder said, she would move within the boundaries of the 148th. Under residency rules that are relaxed because of redistricting, Rehder would have until November 2013 to move into that district should she win.

Bill and Hodges -- Rehder's new and former opponents -- each said they had no problem with Rehder's decision and that they are still taking nothing for granted.

"Elections are about choices, and people should have a choice," said Bill, who has worked for three U.S. congressmen, including the late U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, and served a nine-year stint on the Sikeston City Council.

Bill said he looks forward to spirited discussions about the issues with Rehder and that he hopes they will appear together before civic groups and at community forums. Rehder said she was amenable to that.

"She wants to represent the people of this district, and so do I," said Bill, 61. "I'm happy to leave that decision to the voters of the district."

As for Hodges, he now is the only candidate to declare for the 149th, which includes areas like New Madrid and Pemiscot counties and part of his home county of Mississippi.

But Hodges is far from declaring victory, he said, considering that the filing period -- that runs from Feb. 28 to March 27 -- hasn't even started yet.

"I'll give you an update at 5:01 on March 27," said Hodges, who has served in the House since 2006 representing the current 161st District.

smoyers@semissourian.com

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