3 GOP, 1 Democrat seeking Senate seat

The Aug. 7 Republican Primary for the open seat in Missouri's 31st Senatorial District will test whether a former state representative from Lamar and a newcomer from Peculiar can challenge a sitting state representative from the district's major population center in Cass County.

The winner of that plurality election will face Drexel Democrat Charlie Burton, who couldn't be reached Thursday or Friday, in the Nov. 6 general election.

Former State Rep. Ed Emery of Lamar said Friday that he had been busy shoring up his base in the south end of the five-county district and working for new support in the north.

Budgeting $300,000 for the contest, Emery cited his background as the former 126th District representative from Barton and Dade and parts of Jasper and Polk counties, along with growing up in Nevada and graduating from Nevada High School in 1968.

He is a close friend of former Rep. Rex Rector of Harrisonville, who is assisting him there. He faces State Rep. Scott Largent of Clinton and car dealer Dave Morris of Peculiar in the primary.

Emery, a 62-year-old petroleum engineer who has worked in the farming, cattle, roofing and consulting industries, was endorsed Friday by outgoing Rep. Barney Fisher, R-Horton. "I have served with Ed and Scott and would be comfortable with either one," Fisher said.

"I give the nod to Ed because he knows Jeff City and is probably the most principled person of all the representatives I have seen. He is a stick-to-your-guns guy, very steady. There is no wondering where Ed stands on an issue. He is an extremely principled, Godly man."

Sen. David Pearce of Warrensburg was redistricted out of the 31st District, which now has Barton, Henry, Bates, Vernon and Cass counties, and is seeking re-election in the 21st.

Emery reported campaigning to oppose the federal government's infringement on state sovereignty and restore public school education and make it globally competitive. "The whole point of federalism is that the federal government receives its authority from the states, not vice versa, and it's the job of the states to maintain those limits," he said.

Emery left the General Assembly after serving the maximum allowable four two-year terms in 2010. "The state legislature is the first defense the people have against the federal government's trying to enact unconstitutional or irrational laws," he said.

"The U.S. Constitution is a supremely succinct and minimal document. Restoring education is about teaching young men and women how to think rather than what to think. It should be a matter of education, not indoctrination. Most countries of the world educate their young people better than America does. With each increase in education spending, we have seen a decrease in the results."

Largent on Friday reported getting the endorsements of Pearce and Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar.

Saying he also expects to spend about $300,000, the 42-year-old former Henry County coroner and Warrensburg policeman cited his support of gun owners' rights and his pro-life position along with a strong emphasis on jobs creation. "I have been focusing on several pieces of legislation for foster care adoption and carrying a bill for National Guard veterans," he said.

"We found a way to fix the funding for Missouri's eight veterans' homes by using money from the tobacco master settlement agreement. The main issue going right now is jobs. Despite the economic downturn, several companies in Clinton have been able to increase jobs like Tracker Boats, Schreiber Cheese and Schreiber's Capri packaging section.

"We need to have all the tools available so when downturns occur, the companies have a place to go. And we need to make ourselves as attractive as possible so when companies move, they look at us as an attractive place."

For example, Largent said Tracker downsized a plant in Oklahoma and enlarged its Clinton operation. He said southern Cass County's enhanced enterprise zone has been so productive that similar zones should be established throughout the 31st District.

The current 120th District rep is chairman of the House Children & Families Committee, vice chairman of the Banking & Financial Institutions Committee and a Rules Committee member. Completing his second two-year term, he owns a Servpro Industries fire and water cleanup and restoration franchise in Clinton.

"You never like to have an opponent, but I like my chances," Largent said. "Rep. Chris Molendorp from Belton-Raymore is helping me, as is his dad Gene, a former county commissioner. I will be running hard after the legislative session ends next Friday."

Morris said the race will be settled when the Republican votes are counted Aug. 7 with the top man getting the nomination. "I think the Democrats ran Burton to make sure there'd be a general election," said Morris, 56, who has run Morris Auto Sales in Peculiar for 25 years.

"As a small business owner, I will be an advocate for small business," he said. "I'm a common sense conservative in favor of reducing economically crippling over-regulation, reducing the size of government and eliminating wasteful spending."

Morris, a National Rifle Association member and treasurer of the West Peculiar Fire Protection District, didn't know how much he will spend but said it will be less than Emery and Largent.

A state senator earns $35,915 annually plus $98.40 per diem when the Assembly is in session. The 34 members each represent about 176,000 constituents.

"The difference between me and the other gentlemen in the race is that I am not a politician, just a small businessman, and I will bring the common man's approach" Morris said. "I won't owe any political favors if I go to Jefferson City. I'll vote in the district's best interests and not worry about who I'm going to owe anything to.

"Because of the open seat, this is probably one of the few times when someone who is not politically connected can stand a fair chance to succeed. Like everyone else, I watch the news and read the paper. The Republicans and Democrats talk one thing, but they keep spending.

"We just can't keep spending money. We don't have a balanced budget in Missouri. We don't have a deficit, but they balance it with a credit card, so to speak. They borrow. I'd like to see a true balanced budget."

Referring to Emery and Largent, Morris said, "The gentlemen I'm running against have been in the legislature and Missouri is still 50th among the states in job creation.

"They had a shot at it. We need to be in the middle of the pack, not at the end, and we should eliminate the state income tax. I may not be able to outspend them, but I know I can outwork them."