Republicans introduce party candidates

By Janet Morales

Randolph County state officials, as well as candidates for office, spoke during the Lincoln Day dinner held March 19.

Rep. Therese Sander served as emcee for the event. Sander, Moberly, is completing her final term as District 22 representative, which includes Randolph County.

Sen. Kurt Schaefer was on hand to give some updates of action in the state senate and also to speak on economic conditions within the country.

Schaefer serves as vice chair of senate appropriations. He said Missouri has a state provision that it cannot spend more in a given year that it takes in. He said the Senate has pledged to not raise taxes but to make budget cuts instead. While this is a difficult task, he said, it is a better alternative than the situation states like California and Illinois are facing.

“Illinois is facing a $4 billion bailout,” said Schaefer. “We will never be at that point. We did not spend more than we brought in but we have sister states that did. That will make it difficult for the rest of us. We are half way into the session. These are the most difficult times I have seen. But I’m not going to pass on debt. We are going to sacrifice right now and leave the state in better condition than we found it.”

STATE AND LOCAL CANDIDATES

State representative – District 22

There are three Republicans seeking the seat of District 22 representative: Tim Remole, Randy Asbury and Doug Farnen.

Tim Remole

Remole, of Excello, is running on a platform of faith, family and freedom. He has taken part in tea parties and provided a written witness to a proposed amendment by Rep. Brian Nieves regarding state sovereignty. Remole is staunchly pro-life and said as a former employee of NEMO Coal, he understands the stresses of unemployment. As a small business owner for over 20 years, including a business in Huntsville, he said he has learned to lived within his means and would do the same as representative in Jefferson City.

“My voting is based on what’s good for the people, not to get re-elected,” said Remole.

Randy Asbury

Asbury currently serves on the Randolph County Commission and has worked to bring the county from deep deficits to a positive balance, despite falling sales tax revenues and rising costs.

“Without a doubt, the fiscal condition of the county is as good as it is by what God has done on your behalf.”

Asbury said he is “unashamedly pro-life, unashamedly pro-Second Amendment, unashamedly pro-capitalism, and unashamedly pro-Jesus.”

Asbury said he and the other two commissioners have learned to work as a team for the betterment of the county and in Jefferson City he would work with others to try to find common ground but “I am competitive when it comes to my convictions. When my values of Christianity and Conservatism are challenged, I won’t back down.”

Doug Farnen

Farnen lives in Salisbury where he serves on the city council. He said it is his goal for politicians to have to work on every 10 pages of a bill to slow down the process and make them think about what they’re doing. He said he is a strong right-to-life candidate and encourages every voter to become educated on the issues and the candidates.

Prosecuting Attorney

Michael Fusselman is seeking another term as Randolph County Prosecutor after serving 20 years in the post. The position itself will be on the April 6 ballot as voters will be asked to make the job full-time rather than the current part-time status.

Fusselman acknowledged the county commissioners, two of which are Republicans, and said they are now a pleasure to work with.

“When times get tougher, the right people come along,” he said.

Fusselman spoke of improvements to the office and the court system over the years including the establishment of the victim’s fund, alternatives to dealing with substance abuse cases and inmate recidivism.

“Victims get restitution completely and as soon as possible,” said Fusselman. “In the last four years, my office has collected $225,000 to $250,000 per year in restitution and bad checks. That’s $1 million returned as a result of the work done by the ladies in my office.”

Fusselman said that 15 percent of the people the courts deal with are seen four to five times in the same year because they don’t do that much time in jail. He said work is being done on “smart laws to make people accountable for the wrong they do.”

County Clerk

Will Ellis is seeking the job of Randolph County Clerk, a seat that will be vacated when current clerk Jim Sears retires at the end of the year. Ellis said he has business experience that would prepare him for the job. He has also been offered opportunities to job shadow county clerks to learn what is required in the job.

State Auditor

Rep. Therese Sander spoke on behalf of Rep. Allen Icet who is seeking the position of state auditor.

Sander said Ice-T, as they call him in the house, serves as the budget chairman so he “really knows what goes on with the state budget. He has been a watch dog of the taxpayers’ dollars. His motto is ‘In God we trust but everybody else gets audited.”

Tom Schweich, also a candidate for auditor, was represented by Weston McKee. McKee said Schweich, who is an ambassador to Afghanistan and his life’s work has been doing audits.

“It’s time to circle the wagons and get ready for the 2012 election,” he said.

U.S. Senate

Kit Bond U.S., Senate will retire at the end of his term. Rep. Roy Blunt and Chuck Pergason are Republicans seeking that seat.

Blunt was in Washington D.C. preparing for the “health-control” vote but he had several volunteers working on his behalf. Valinda Freed, Republican Central Committee vice chair, will serve as county coordinator for the Blunt campaign.

Freed said Blunt is for very limited, small government and lower taxes. She said he defends the nation’s security, is 100 percent pro-life and NRA and has voted 95 percent for the chamber of commerce.

“Roy Blunt recognizes that government does not create jobs,” said Freed.

U.S. Representative

Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer is seeking re-election as representative for District 9. He was in Washington D.C. to vote on the healthcare bill but his wife Jackie was in attendance.

Rep. Nieves said, Blaine Luetkemeyer is doing an amazing job in D.C. He understands what government is about.”

Sen. Schaefer, whose father was a surgeon, said his father understood that medical care was a commodity.

“Healthcare should not be forced on you by the federal government,” he said. “It should not be a crime to pay your provider directly which it will under this bill.”

These candidates will face an August primary to decide who goes on to compete in November’s general election.