Roads high priority in Missouri House's 156th District race

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- One candidate says the roads in the state's 156th District need to be improved. The other says no one can afford to drive on the roads because of high gas prices. Both candidates for the seat -- Democrat Michael Winder and Republican Shelley Keeney -- say they have traveled the district's roads and have been listening to what people say they expect from the next person to represent them.

Winder is making his second bid for the office. He lost in 2006 to House Speaker Rod Jetton, who is barred from seeking re-election by term limits. Keeney has been allied with Jetton throughout his political career and has spent the last several years as Jetton's aide in his local office.

Winder said infrastructure is high on the district's lists of priorities, in particular Highway 34 in both Bollinger and Wayne counties.

"We have been promised for many years that the state is working on it," Winder said.

Keeney said transportation is a priority but added that her sources told her roads in the district have not been forgotten.

"We have had some major improvements in highways 72 and 67," Keeney said. "Other highways need attention. I have met with MoDOT. They know there is a great deal of groundwork as far as some of the studies. There are things that go into the transportation budget before you see ground being broken and equipment moved. Most of those have been done on Highway 34. We're just waiting to work with federal officials and the highway commission before we actually go forward on that project."

Voters have told both candidates they're finding it difficult to afford the basics because jobs are scarce or their expenses are outpacing their incomes. Keeney cited high prices for gas and other necessities, and Winder reiterated his concern for good roads to get to good jobs or to bring jobs to the area.

"Some of the hardest-working people live in our district," Winder said. "In Wayne and Madison counties with the four-laning of Highway 67 coming through, that provides a good opportunity to attract jobs. If we could straighten Highway 34 out, we could attract jobs here."

Both said they heard constituents say they want to promote tourism in the area. Bollinger and Wayne counties especially are popular tourist attractions with rivers, campgrounds, state parks and lakes, but those attractions need to be better marketed, they said.

Winder, a welder, said he has taken time off from his job to campaign for office. He's trying to build on his 43 percent showing in the 2006 contest against Jetton. "It's not bad considering I was running against the most powerful man in the statehouse and nobody knew who I was," he said.

Although he is running as a Democrat, he said he has not taken any money from the party.

"I don't owe them anything," Winder said. "I will go up there and vote my district, which is what a representative is supposed to do."

He said he has accepted some donations from labor unions, but mostly he has raised money from individuals who have donated small sums, have supported raffles for him and have come to his chicken and dumpling dinners. Winder said he cooks the chicken and dumplings.

Keeney has been able to tap into support from area businesses as well as raising large donations from groups that lobby in Jefferson City. The roots of her campaign are in the district, she said.

"My support comes from people in the district," Keeney said. "A couple of months ago I had over 200 donors, individuals in the district and the area."

lredeffer@semissourian.com

573-238-2821