3 vie for GOP spot in District 116 race

Jul 30, 2010 — The Sedalia Democrat

Matthew Steingraber

Jul. 30, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- With Republican state Rep. Bill Self, of Cole Camp, set to leave office due to term limits, five people are vying to replace him as the representative of District 116, and on Tuesday, the three GOP candidates will learn who will appear on the party's ticket in November.

The three Republican contenders -- Bill Johnson, Marlin Hammond and Wanda Brown -- as well as Democratic candidate Mike Stevenson and the Constitution Party's Ray Herron are each seeking to represent the district, which covers portions of Pettis, Benton and Morgan counties.

Stevenson and Herron are both running unopposed in Tuesday's election, and will face the winner of the Republican primary later this year.

Bill Johnson

Johnson, who lives in Sunrise Beach, where he operates resort, property management and real estate businesses, said his broad business background would make him the best of the three GOP candidates facing off for the position.

Johnson practiced veterinary medicine for more than 40 years, worked as a rancher and now runs several small businesses. He also has served on the board of directors for several organizations, including the Animal Orphanage in Versailles, the Tri-County Lodgings Association and the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"My reason for getting involved in the race is that I have all these years of experience. With that background, I'll be able to hit the floor running, I believe," he said. "Government is a business, and I feel my qualifications exceed the other candidates."

He said revitalizing the local economy and removing obstacles to small business job creation would be his top priorities if elected as representative.

"I think for the whole district, the biggest problem we have is jobs, and we have too many regulations for small business," Johnson said.

With more state budget concerns on the horizon for next session, Johnson said lawmakers need to examine the programs that get priorities for state dollars. While he said every recipient of state funding can expect some cutbacks, he identified tax credit programs, especially those for the preservation of historic sites, as one area where the Legislature could trim during lean times.

"I think one thing that really needs to be looked at is our tax credits," Johnson said. "Those take money before it can get to education or Medicaid, and I think we need to take a real hard look at where are tax credits are when we balance the budget."

Marlin Hammond

A resident of Lincoln, Hammond retired in 2009 after working in the Lincoln School District -- where he served terms as teacher, elementary principal, athletic director and several coaching positions -- for the last 31 years.

In total, he worked in the education field at the Raymore-Peculiar, Pleasant Hope, Bolivar and Lincoln school districts for 35 years prior to his retirement, and also has served in various civic and church organizations.

As a former American government teacher with a lifelong interest in politics, Hammond said he had always planned to seek elected office when he retired, so when the timing of Self's term limit coincided with his retirement, Hammond jumped at the opportunity to fill the opening seat.

"I was always interested in the governmental process, and I think I could really help people of the 116th District," Hammond said.

Insulating state funding for schools and educational programs is something Hammond vowed to make a priority if elected to the office. He said making sure children have the opportunity to seek higher education opportunities also would benefit the economy by ensuring the state has a productive, capable work force for the future.

While he acknowledged that some cuts in education will be inevitable, Hammond believed his background in schools gives him the ability to identify which potential reductions would do the least harm to students.

"With my years of experience in education, I will have the knowledge and ability to know what cuts can be made without hurting the integrity of the education process," he said.

He said his other top goals in office would be fostering an environment for job growth and renewing residents' confidence and faith in state government by working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to do what is best for the district.

"I want people to know if they vote for me, they will be represented in a professional manner, and their needs will be put ahead of those of the politicians," Hammond said.

Wanda Brown

Brown, of Lincoln, has operated the Benton County License Office in Warsaw for the last five years, and she has 13 years of experience working on political campaigns for conservative candidates across the state.

She said she decided to run for office because she believed it was important for the district to have a conservative representative in the state Legislature.

"For these positions, it is very important that we keep conservatives in there," Brown said. "I am not running out of convenience or as a retirement plan, this is because I care very much about what happens in the state and community."

While on the campaign trail, Brown said she has repeatedly heard that the top concern for district residents is jobs. She said encouraging job creation among small businesses would provide a needed boost for state coffers, which could be used to fund vital programs for schools, veterans and senior citizens.

"We have to ensure we keep taxes low and make sure the district is a business-friendly environment," she said. "We need to make sure people understand that small businesses are the backbone of the nation, and also locally, and they need to be protected."

Brown said when considering curbing spending in the wake of projected state budget shortfalls next year, legislators must identify the most necessary programs to protect those that benefit the most people.

"We have to look at programs that are absolutely necessary first, and make sure we consider everyone of all ages," Brown said.

She said her experience in operating small businesses and working to advocate for conservative causes with her husband makes her the best candidate to represent the district on the GOP ticket in November.

"We know how to run our own business and understand being self-employed," Brown said.

"You have to be frugal and be a person who knows how to manage money, and we have been active in politics for the last 13 years because these are things we believe in."

Newstex ID: KRTB-0246-47485853