Wooley challenges Wright in attempt to reverse outcome of their previous 159th House match-up

Republican incumbent touts commitment to voters of his district.

By MATT SANDERS

Southeast Missourian

Boyce Wooley and Billy Pat Wright have been here before.

The Dexter men faced off two years ago for the 159th district seat in the Missouri House of Representatives in a race without an incumbent.

Two years ago Wright, a Republican, won the seat, thanks in large part to strong Republican voting in the southwest portion of Cape Girardeau County covered by the district. Wooley took the candidates' home county, Stoddard County, by 30 votes.

Wright took Cape Girardeau County's part of the 159th by a 1,510 vote margin; and Wayne County's portion by 60 votes.

This time around, Wooley thinks the outcome will be different.

"I didn't work Cape County to speak of last time ... it's mainly Republican and I thought it probably wouldn't make much difference," said Wooley. "But this year, I think it's making a difference."

The former Dexter teacher and football coach said he revised his campaign strategy this year to win over some of those in Cape Girardeau County who cast votes for his opponent last time. That means Wooley has pounded Cape Girardeau County ground more, campaigning in the 159th district part of the county about once a week, he said.

Monetary underdog

Like other Democratic candidates, Wooley is a monetary underdog in the race. His campaign raised more than $23,000 before the August primary and has brought in $7,000 since then.

Wright had raised more than $53,000 as of Oct. 6.

The disadvantage doesn't concern Wooley. Many of those voters who went Republican in 2004 have become jaded toward the GOP, Wooley said. He thinks this time conservative Democrats like him will reap the reward of frustrated voters.

"They think they've been deceived," he said. "And they think there's more corruption in this administration than the eye sees."

He says his opponent is a rubber stamp for the administration.

Wright's take on Wooley's assertions sounds like they're living in totally different worlds -- not co-existing in Dexter.

"When I ran for office the first time, I promised I would serve all the constituents of my district," Wright said. "If they call my office, I don't ask if they're Democrat or Republican. If they need help and their cause is just and legal, I will help any way I can.

Wright said Wooley's hoped-for coup in Cape Girardeau County won't materialize Nov. 7. "We feel very good about Cape County. Those folks are loyal," he said. "They're loyal to me and the party."

Wooley said his opponent has forsaken the needs of his constituents in favor of the party in power, especially on issues like education and Medicaid. But Wright said his record over the past two years in Jefferson City shows a commitment to the needs of the voters in his district.

He touts legislative accomplishments like tort reform, Medicaid reform, creating a new funding formula for public schools, reducing the size of state government, improving care in veterans homes and workers comp reform as changes desired by his constituents. Voting with his party on such issues is just the way politics works, he said.

'Best for the people'

"I've voted against my party," Wright said. "I vote for what I think is best for the people. Democrats and Republicans each have separate platforms, and you're going to vote a lot of the time the way your party does."

As in many Southeast Missouri state House races, though, the party line has blurred somewhat. Democrats in the area are running not only on change this year but on their commitment to conservative values.

Wooley is pro-life, supports gun rights and believes in marriage between only a man and a woman -- views the Republican party has laid claim to in the past.

"Those kinds of things are a personal belief, and not so much a party belief," Wooley said.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182

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Boyce Wooley

Party: Democrat

Age: 58

Hometown: Dexter

Education: Bachelor of science in education from Northeast Missouri State University

Occupation: Retired teacher and coach, currently part-time bailiff in Stoddard County

Personal: Wife Kay (married 38 years); three adult children, Bobbi Kay, Brandon and Leighanne

Political experience: Second run for 159th district seat, served for two years on Dexter Transportation Advisory Committee

Billy Pat Wright

Party: Republican

Age: 69

Hometown: Dexter

Education: Bachelor of arts in behavioral science, National College in Chicago

Occupation: Retired from Southwestern Bell telephone

Personal: Wife Linda (married 45 years); three grown children, Elaine, Leah and Laura

Political experience: Two years as representative for Missouri's 159th House district