Hartzler facing tough contest

The 4th Congressional District tussle between incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler and Democratic Cass County Prosecutor Teresa Hensley will be competitive, but political observers from both parties expect Hartzler to win a second term in the Nov. 6 general election.

After the 2011 Census cut the number of Missouri's congressional districts from nine to eight, redistricting nudged the 4th's politics a little Hensley's way by cutting four counties while adding four and parts of two others, observers say.

Additional factors are that the National Democratic Party has helped Hensley raise more than $250,000, Hartzler is a more experienced campaigner and her visibility is enhanced by the regional presence of her family's farm equipment manufacturing company.

State Rep. Barney Fisher of Horton, Vernon County Republican Committeeman Scott Buerge and former Reps. Harold Weil of Butler and Jerry Burch of Walker agreed the contest won't be easy for Hartzler, who is opposed in her Aug. 7 primary by Sunrise Beach Republican Bernie Mowinski.

Others are Congressional Party nominee Greg Cowan of Lebanon and Libertarians Herschel Young of Harrisonville and Thomas Holbrook of Warrensburg. Hensley is unopposed in her primary.

Fisher said Hartzler's campaign "was made slightly harder by redistricting, but not that much harder.

"As a freshman representative, she has solidified her incumbency as much as you'd like," he said. "She has a tough race on her hands, but I think she will do well and come out on top. She has experience with small business and veterans that fits her district.

"There is a theory that the average voter needs to see your name seven times before they remember it. If that's true, Vicky has a leg up on name recognition."

Fisher noted Hartzler Equipment has stores throughout the 24-county district. "Probably half of the district has done business with them," the Republican said.

"I'm sure she'll get the Missouri Farm Bureau endorsement. The National Rifle Association doesn't endorse until late in the game, but she will get a good grade from them."

The redistricting panel added the Kansas City part of Cass County, Boone County and the University of Missouri, Cooper, Howard and Randolph counties and most of Audrain County while deleting Jefferson City and Cole County and Ray, Lafayette and Saline counties.

Citing the additional factor of both leading candidates' living at Harrisonville, Buerge said the 53-year-old Hensley "has good name recognition in that area and the territory has been increased with areas a little less friendly to Republicans.

"Rep. Hartzler's got her hands full," said Buerge, a Nevada banker. "It's no pushover this time."

Referring to the House Democratic Armed Services Committee chairman whom the 51-year-old Hartzler unseated, Buerge said, "Ike Skelton used to be a solid conservative who matched his constituency, but during his last four to six years he adopted the Democrats' liberal party line.

"Hartzler is not a hard core conservative, but she is fairly conservative. We're a primarily agricultural area and she understands the issues that confront the ag community. She is a person of her word who doesn't have a lot of skeletons rattling around in her closet like some politicians do.

"She has a voting record with a good level of credibility. It's not perfect, but it is certainly good."

Weil said redistricting "didn't help Vicky any, but she wasn't going to have a tough race anyway.

"Most insiders think she's in good shape. She has done a good job and her district is still one of the most Republican in central or northern Missouri.

"Two years ago, she went to every little bitty town and county there was and went back again. She is out hustling on the trail right now, speaking somewhere every day, and there are a lot of counties where I don't think a Democrat could draw a crowd."

Weil said Hartzler "will not win easily, but she will win.

"She identifies well with this district," the Republican said. "Vicky grew up on a farm (near Archie), taught school and got acquainted with political life as a state representative. She has a church background and identifies with just about everybody.

"She is as honest as she can be about everything, even if it hurts. She lost Whiteman Air Force Base and Johnson County and Fort Leonard Wood and Pulaski County the last time, but she will do better there."

Burch said Hensley has enough money to accrue name recognition, but Hartzler hasn't been in Congress long enough to get much criticism. "The district still tends to be more conservative," said Burch, a Democrat.

"You can get known quickly if you've got enough money in your war chest to buy the advertising and get your name out; but I think the chances are not as great in favor of Hensley as they are with Vicky."