Two candidates from Jackson seek GOP nomination for governor

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- As a typical, hard-working Missourian, Jennie Lee Sievers says she would have the background to connect with constituents on a personal level as governor. Jeff Killian figures that if he is going to run for public office, he might as well start at the top.

Sievers and Killian, both Jackson residents, are among the five lesser-known candidates seeking to claim the Republican gubernatorial nomination from Secretary of State Matt Blunt, the choice of the party establishment, in Tuesday's primary.

Sievers, 70, operated the Rainbow Grill and Ideal Grocery and Meat Market in Jackson for decades with her late husband, Nelson "Butch" Sievers. She also ran for governor in 2000, picking up 11.4 percent of the vote in the GOP primary.

Having learned from that experience, Sievers is more active on the campaign trail this year, traveling throughout the state to speak at candidate forums.

"I go everywhere I possibly can," Sievers said. "That was something I did not do last time."

As a retiree whose daughter and grandchildren are grown, Sievers says she could dedicate her full attention to the office if elected.

"I'm a person who loves people," Sievers said. "I can work for them -- my new family -- full time."

On the issues, Sievers supports greater government assistance for small farmers and stronger state oversight of nursing homes to ensure residents receive adequate care.

"They are getting a lot of money for not doing their jobs," Sievers said of nursing homes.

Killian, 32, is a forklift operator at Auto Tire & Parts Co. in Cape Girardeau. He is also a full-time student at Southeast Missouri State University working on a political science degree. He and his wife, Kendra, have two children, ages 15 and 4.

Like Sievers, Killian spends much time on the road meeting with rank-and-file Republican voters.

"We've shown up at places where the major candidate doesn't want to go," Killian said.

During his travels, Killian has witnessed firsthand the poor condition of many of Missouri's highways. He doesn't support raising taxes to fund improvements but says achieving savings elsewhere in the state budget to shift money to transportation would be a good place to start.

Killian stresses the need for greater fiscal accountability and public transparency in state government. He proposes a constitutional amendment that would bar the legislature or governor from reducing state education spending.

He also supports improving teacher pay, which would lure a greater number of talented people to the profession and improve the overall quality of the education provided to students. Having a better-educated work force would, in turn, improve Missouri's economy, he said.

"Education is what drives the economy," Killian said. "If we don't have highly educated people coming out of high school and college, we will not be able to attract jobs."

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