Process not an ‘insider's game'

In a recent column, Mike Jensen criticized the nominee selection process in the 8th District special election. As vice-chair of the Scott County Republican Committee, I was involved in the process Mr. Jensen criticizes. The rules for this process were set up many years ago by the state. County Republican committees and County Democrat committees operate under Missouri law and guidelines that apply equally to both parties. This process is the ultimate function for which county committees and the district committee were formed -- to carry out in the event an elected representative could not fulfill their elected term.

The state of Missouri established the rules for an event such as this long ago. They weren't concocted by Jo Ann Emerson and Jason Smith. I would like Mr. Jensen to detail specifically step-by-step how, what he called an "insiders game," was carried out and by whom; how it unfolded exactly.

This special selection process is a lengthy, time-consuming, uncompensated one for the county committee officers who were elected by their county committee members to carry out. How did the 67 percent of votes cast for Jason Smith play into this conspiracy? Why was Peter Kinder, a very prominent Republican, not the insiders' pick? Or why not Lloyd Smith, who served as Missouri Republican Party executive director after more than 20 years as chief of staff to Bill and Jo Ann Emerson?

A detailed explanation is owed to those of us who were involved in selecting the primary candidate, a process Mr. Jensen asserts was an "insider's game."

JOHN McMILLEN, Sikeston, Mo.