Republicans bank on unity in battle to win 157th District

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The three runner-ups in the Republican primary for the 157th District House race pledged Wednesday to work for the election of their party's nominee for the seat.

The primary boasted four viable Republican hopefuls, each bringing different strengths and constituencies to the race. In the end, Scott Lipke of Jackson squeaked out the victory.

According to revised -- though still unofficial -- results, Lipke finished a mere 24 votes ahead of second place Donna Lichtenegger of Jackson.

As predicted by the candidates, the victor claimed the nomination with a plurality. Lipke garnered 29.4 percent of the vote compared to 29 percent for Lichtenegger. Gerald Adams of Jackson and Tom Sachse of Friedheim followed with 22.4 and 19.2 percent, respectively. Only 623 votes separated Lipke and fourth-place Sachse.

Lipke will face Democrat Chuck Miller of Oriole and Libertarian Timothy Doubledee of Jackson in the Nov. 5 election.

Despite the close result of the primary, the preceding campaign produced no bitterness or animosity that could split the Republican vote in the fall, the former GOP hopefuls said.

Republican hands

Lichtenegger, a longtime party activist, didn't dwell on her narrow loss. She said she will work to ensure the district, served by departing state Rep. David Schwab of Jackson since 1989, remains in Republican hands.

"One thing I've learned in 30 years in politics is never to second guess what could have happened," Lichtenegger said. "You could drive yourself nuts doing that. You just run a good, clean campaign and move on."

Adams, a member of the Jackson school board, said the campaign was competitive, but friendly.

"I'll support Scott all the way," Adams said.

Sachse, the president of the Cape Girardeau County Farm Bureau, agreed divisiveness was avoided in the primary.

"I think I have three friends I didn't have before," Sachse said.

Lipke, an assistant Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney, said he was thankful for the endorsements of his former opponents.

In the general election, Lipke has the advantage of running in a strongly Republican district featuring northern Cape Girardeau County and most of rural Perry County. A disadvantage is that he spent most of his campaign contributions in the primary while Miller, unopposed for the Democratic nomination, was able to bank his donations.

As of July 25, Lipke had almost $9,000 on hand; Miller nearly $14,000. Those figures do not reflect activity in the closing weeks before the primary.

Closing financial gaps

Lipke said he will be able to close that gap with the help of his former opponents and their financial backers.

"I was able to raise a sizable amount on my own," Lipke said. "Factor in support from the other folks, and I think I'll be OK."

Miller, whose benefactors had included political party and interest groups that usually avoid contested primaries, agreed his financial advantage won't last.

"In the months to come, he will probably replenish his campaign quickly," Miller said.

No Democrat has even run in a Jackson-based House district since Schwab's first bid for the seat in 1988. Miller said he isn't deterred by that recent history.

"It's not something I wake up every morning and think about," Miller said. "I think it is time for people to have a choice."

A conservative Democrat, Miller said that during candidate forums this summer, few differences emerged between himself and the Republican hopefuls on the issues.

Miller, who is retired from Procter & Gamble Co., currently owns Miller Auction Service and farms land that has been in his family since the dawn of Missouri statehood. Miller said the biggest difference between him and Lipke is occupation.

"I'm not a lawyer," Miller said. "Anytime someone has a lawyer representing them, it costs him money."

Lipke said contrasts between the two major candidates will emerge as the campaign progresses. The issues he will focus on, in general terms, include education, assistance for senior citizens, helping small business owners and farmers and dealing with the state's ongoing budget troubles.

While 6,136 votes were cast for Republicans on Tuesday compared to 798 for Miller, that fact can't be considered an accurate barometer for predicting the general election. Because there were no locally contested Democratic primaries, some crossover voting by Democrats was expected. However, none of GOP candidates felt crossovers had a bearing on the primary's outcome.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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