Republicans field rare entry in Bootheel House race

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- With hopes of completing its sweep of Bootheel legislative seats, the Republican Party will field a candidate for state representative from a Pemiscot County-based district for the first time in 23 years.

The local Republican committee last week chose radio announcer Bill Wagner of Hayward as the party's nominee to face Dr. Terry Swinger, a Caruthersville Democrat, in the Nov. 4 special election to fill the vacant 162nd District seat in the House of Representatives.

Though a Republican last sought the seat in 1980, the GOP has steadily claimed neighboring districts in the once Democrat-dominated Bootheel in recent years. The 162nd District was the last in the region held by a Democrat when Denny Merideth of Caruthersville resigned in June to take a job with the U.S. Foreign Service Office.

Wagner works for Pollack Broadcasting, which owns several area radio stations. Swinger is an optometrist who operates offices in Caruthersville, Portageville and Kennett.

Shirley Johnson, an English teacher in the Cooter School District, plans to run as an independent if she can collect sufficient signatures to get on the ballot. Johnson unsuccessfully sought both the Democratic and Republican nominations for the special election.

The winner will serve the remainder of Merideth's term, which ends in January 2005, and will have to run again in November 2004 to retain the seat.

A Republican last represented Pemiscot County in the House in 1933 and since that time only a handful of party candidates have sought the seat.

The 162nd District also includes parts of Dunklin and New Madrid counties.

Republicans currently hold 90 House seats, while Democrats have 72.