Two Perryville Republicans compete for 145th District seat

Two Perryville, Missouri, Republicans vying for the 145th state representative position agree the state needs to provide more funding for public school districts.

Rick Francis and Chad Unterreiner said they want to stop wasteful spending in state government and fully fund the school-funding formula.

The winner of the Republican primary Tuesday will face Democratic candidate Ronald Pember and Constitution Party candidate Victoria “Tori” Proffer, both of Fredericktown, Missouri, in the November election.

The winner of the November election will succeed incumbent Rep. Shelley Keeney Taylor of Marble Hill, Missouri, who has served four two-year terms and is barred from seeking re-election because of term limits.

The 145th District covers all of Bollinger and Madison counties and most of Perry County.

Chad Unterreiner

Francis stressed his education background. He was employed as a teacher and administrator for 33 years and has served as a member of the school board for the Perry County School District for the past three years.

“I’ve seen what a quality education can provide. The current formula for school funding has a budget shortfall of over $300 million. Not only is funding inadequate, it is inequitable,” Francis said.

“Rural schools deserve the same resources as suburban districts,” he said. “In Missouri, we need a simple and fair way to distribute money to schools.”

Unterreiner, a fitness coordinator for the city of Perryville, said eliminating wasteful spending in state government could help fully fund the education formula and “provide more resources for our educators.”

Both candidates said they want to lessen the regulatory burden on businesses.

“It is clear we need to get government off their backs,” Francis said. “Small businesses are the back bone and the lifeblood of our communities,”

Francis said reducing government regulations will spark job growth.

Unterreiner said he favors “limiting government restrictions against businesses” to foster job growth.

In addition, he wants to encourage expansion of existing businesses.

Unterreiner said he is running a grass-roots campaign. He wants to ban lobbyist gifts to lawmakers.

Unlike many Republicans, Unterreiner opposes right-to-work laws, contending such laws lead to lower-paying, non-union jobs. Those who don’t want to be employed in a union shop can choose to seek employment with non-union businesses. No one is forced to take a union job, he said.

Unterreiner said Republican and Democratic lawmakers need to cooperate in serving the public.

“We have to get back to our foundation of working together,” Unterreiner said.

Francis said state and local law enforcement needs more public support.

“We have to start supporting our law enforcement in our communities and Jefferson City,” Francis said.

Francis said he is running for state representative to provide “a voice for the people in District 145.”

The former educator said he wants to represent the families in the legislative district.

“If there are policies that weaken the family, then let’s discard them,” Francis said.

Both candidates said they oppose abortion and support the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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