Three locals file for lieutenant governor race

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- It has been known for months that multiple Southeast Missouri residents would be running for lieutenant governor this year. But the entry of one local hopeful into the race wasn't expected.

Bruce Hillis of Dexter became the first to file for the post when the candidate filing period for state office opened Tuesday morning.

With Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, the choice of state GOP leaders for lieutenant governor, Hillis is under no illusions about his chances of winning the party's nomination in the Aug. 2 primary. However, he sees his campaign as a chance to raise awareness of issues related to the constitutional sovereignty of states from federal authority.

"I'm not fooling myself," Hillis said. "It takes a political machine to raise money, but I'm hopeful I can get these issues out on the table."

Hillis, a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, a Southern heritage group, has spent time in the Missouri Capitol recently lobbying for legislation that would lead to the restoration of Confederate flags that until January 2003 flew at two state historical sites.

Former state Rep. Pat Secrest of Manchester is also seeking the Republican nomination and by luck of the draw will be listed first on the party's primary ballot, with Kinder second and Hillis third.

Former Secretary of State Bekki Cook of Cape Girardeau will top the Democratic ballot for lieutenant governor ahead of Senate Minority Floor Leader Ken Jacob of Columbia. Libertarian Mike Ferguson of Grandview is also running for the office.

Ballot order for candidates who filed on the first day was determined by lottery. Subsequent entries will be listed in the order they filed.

Incumbent Gov. Bob Holden claimed the top listing in the Democratic primary over State Auditor Claire McCaskill.

On the Republican side, presumed nominee Secretary of State Matt Blunt will be listed behind two little known challengers -- Karen Lee Dee Skelton-Memhardt of Wildwood and John Weiler of St. Louis -- but ahead of a third -- Jen Sievers of Jackson. Randy Langkraehr of Warrensburg is the Libertarian entry.

The filing period for statewide office, legislative seats and circuit court judgeships runs through March 30.

On opening day, 261 candidates -- 136 Republicans, 119 Democrats and six Libertarians -- filed for the 163 House seats on the 2004 ballot. The 17 Senate seats -- half of the chamber -- up for grabs drew 35 hopefuls, with Republicans and Democrats each providing 16 candidates along with three Libertarians.

Representing Cape

Three Republican hopefuls filed for the House from the 158th District, which covers most of the city of Cape Girardeau. Those candidates are Phil Brinson, the owner of Buckner's Brewery in Cape Girardeau; Nathan Cooper, a local lawyer; and Eugene Frazier, a social studies teacher at Cape Girardeau Central High School.

House Majority Floor Leader Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, currently holds the seat. Crowell filed for the 27th District Senate seat being vacated by Kinder.

Another House member looking to move to the upper chamber is state Rep. Rob Mayer, R-Dexter. He will run in the 25th District, which covers most of the Bootheel. Libertarian Curtis Steward of Campbell also filed for that seat.

Four candidates are running to succeed Mayer in the House. His 159th District represents northern Stoddard County, southwestern Cape Girardeau County and a small part of Wayne County.

Running on the Democratic side are Bruce Wooley, a former teacher and coach at Dexter High School, and Ryan William Holder of Advance. Republican hopefuls are former Stoddard County Associate Commissioner Jerry Elder of Bloomfield and Dexter real estate agent Billy Pat Wright.

Incumbents challengedTwo Republican House incumbents who filed for re-election quickly picked up challengers.

Democrat John Howser, a retired teacher and band director in the Fredericktown School District, will seek to unseat House Speaker Pro Tem Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill. Jetton's 156th District covers Bollinger and Madison counties and most of Wayne County.

In the 154th District, which represents the northern half of Butler County, former Poplar Bluff Mayor Reid Forrester will challenge state Rep. Gayle Kingery of Poplar Bluff in the GOP primary.

Two Republicans -- Perryville optometrist Steven Tilley and Farmington businessman Gary Romine -- are seeking an open seat in the 106th District, which covers parts of Perry, Ste. Genevieve and St. Francois counties. Tilley has the endorsement of incumbent state Rep. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington.

Engler intends to run for the open 3rd District Senate seat but hasn't yet filed. State Rep. Dan Ward, D-Bonne Terre, is the only official entry so far.

Incumbent state representatives who filed for re-election but haven't yet drawn opponents are Republicans Scott Lipke of Jackson, Peter Myers of Sikeston, Lanie Black of Charleston, Otto Bean of Holcomb and Mike Dethrow of Alton, plus Democrat Terry Swinger of Caruthersville.

In the 8th Congressional District, Democrats Dean Henderson of Peace Valley and Jerry Cass of Hartville are seeking their party's nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau. Emerson hasn't yet filed.

In down-ticket statewide races, Democrat Robin Carnahan of St. Louis and Libertarian Christopher Davis of Springfield filed for secretary of state. Carnahan is the daughter of the late Gov. Mel Carnahan and former U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan.

Attorney General Jay Nixon, a Democrat, launched his bid for an unprecedented fourth term. Chris Byrd of Kansas City and Dewey Crepeau of Columbia are vying for the GOP nomination to challenge Nixon.

With State Treasurer Nancy Farmer, a Democrat, looking to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Kit Bond this year, a crowded 10-candidate field of three Democrats and seven Republicans has opened to replace her.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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