State Senate seat for area attracts three candidates

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The three candidates for the open 27th District seat in the Missouri Senate are each campaigning for the job with a different focus.

Republican Jason Crowell is hoping to continue pushing the legislative agenda he has pursued as state representative. Democrat Donnie Owens is seeking to end the 12-year hold the GOP has had on the seat. Libertarian Chris Morrill is trying to have a little fun by rattling the establishment.

Having raised $227,712 for his campaign as of Aug. 28, Crowell is viewed as the front-runner in the Nov. 2 election. Neither of his opponents had received significant campaign contributions.

Crowell, 32, is a lawyer with the Cape Girardeau firm of Osburn, Hine, Kuntze, Yates & Murphy. He has been in the House of Representatives since 2001, holding the post of majority floor leader since Republicans took control in 2003.

Among his legislative achievements, Crowell touts his roles in securing state money for construction of the Cape Girardeau School District's Career and Technology Center and preventing funding for the Cottonwood Children's Residential Treatment Center from being eliminated.

Crowell was also a key player in twice securing passage of legislation that aimed to overhaul Missouri's civil justice system. However, Democratic Gov. Bob Holden vetoed both bills.

As senator, Crowell said he would continue to push for reform, which supporters claim is vital to eliminating nuisance lawsuits and establishing a more business-friendly climate in the state.

Owens, 53, is a Fredericktown truck driver who owns and operates his own rig.

Of his decision to run, Owens said: "It is an open seat, and I decided we need a Democrat in there to represent the people of this district."

Owens said improving funding for education and transportation are his two top priorities. Although he offered no specific plans for achieving those goals, he ruled out raising taxes to do so.

Like Crowell, Owens supports gun-ownership rights and takes a pro-life stance on abortion.

If elected, Owens said he "won't disrespect the office of senator" in a shot at Crowell's reputation for occasionally engaging in juvenile antics on the House floor to belittle political opponents.

Morrill, 32, is an insurance claims adjuster and part-time fiction writer from Scott City. He describes his small-government political philosophy as "impassioned insensitivity."

"It means standing up and saying no to special interest groups," Morrill explained. "Republicans like to pretend they are fiscally conservative. They aren't. They like to fund their pet projects as well."

Morrill supports the traditional Libertarian view that government should provide minimal services and leave the rest to private enterprise. He chided Crowell for claiming to be a fiscal conservative while bragging about securing taxpayer funding for projects and services in his district.

The 27th District covers Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Madison, Mississippi, Perry and Scott counties. Incumbent state Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, is term-limited.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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