Local political races beginning to shape up

Filing for the August primary ballot opened throughout the state on Feb. 23.

The last day for candidates to file for the August primary is Tuesday, March 30. The last day for voters to register to vote in the primary is July 7.

Missouri voters in November 2008 will a new U.S. Senator, as well as decide races for all eight Congressional districts and state auditor. In addition, all 163 seats in the Missouri House of Representatives and one-third of the Missouri Senate are on the November ballot.

First, however, the political parties must select their candidates in the August primary election.

Much of the political spotlight in the state this election year will shine on the race for U.S. Senate.

After serving 24 years in the U.S. Senate, Missouri's Kit Bond will retire at the conclusion of his current term. Filling Bond's shoes will most likely garner attention to Missouri from throughout the country as the national political parties battle it out for control of the Senate.

Bond's announcement in January of 2009 caught many Missourians by surprise. Within days, the race for his senate seat was shaping into a race between two of the more dominant political families in Show-Me politics.

On February 2, 2009 Robin Carnahan announced she would seek her party's nomination for the Senate seat.

Carnahan, who was elected as Missouri's Secretary of State in 2004, is the daughter of the late Gov. Mel Carnahan. Following Gov. Carnahan's death in October 2000, her mother, Jean, was appointed to the Senate to fill the seat of her posthumously elected husband. Jean Carnahan was the first woman to represent Missouri in the U.S. Senate.

Robin Carnahan's brother, Russ, serves in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the Third Congressional District.

Two weeks after Carnahan's announcement, Republican U.S. Congressman Roy Blunt announced his intention of running on for his party's nomination.

Blunt was elected in 1972 as the county clerk from Greene County, which includes Springfield. He was elected Missouri Secretary of State in 1984 and served two terms in that position. He also served as the president of Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar.

Blunt's older sons both have been involved in Missouri politics. Matt Blunt was elected as Missouri's governor in 2004 and son Andy is a lawyer and Republican lobbyist. His youngest son, 5-year-old Charlie, has been hitting the campaign trail with his dad this year.

Both Carnahan and Blunt enjoy high recognition throughout the state, but they each must first emerge winners from their party's Aug. 3 primaries.

Carnahan currently has only one opponent in the Democrat primary; Blunt must emerge on top of a field that includes eight other candidates.

In Missouri's Eighth Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson is being challenged by cattle farmer Bob Parker in the Republican primary. First-time candidate Tommy Sowers is unopposed at the present time in the Democratic primary. All of Bootheel's representatives in the Missouri House of Representatives have filed for reelection. State Senator Rob Mayer of the 25th Senatorial District is not up for reelection in 2010.

Candidate filings reported by the Secretary of State's office:

U.S. Senate: Democrat: Francis J. Vangeli, Columbia; Robin Carnahan, Rolla (incumbent); Republican: R.L. Praprotnik, St. Louis; James H. Schmidt, St. Charles; Hector Maldonado, Sullivan; Kristi Nichols, Kansas City; Roy Blunt, Springfield; Deborah Solomon, Independence; Davis Conway, St. Peters; Mike Vontz, Lake St. Louis; Chuck Pergason, Caulfield; Libertarian: Jonathan Dine, Riverside; Cisse Spragins, Kansas City ; Constitution: Joe Martellaro, Cuba; Jerry Beck, La Monte; Mike Simmons, New Haven.

U.S. Representative from the 8th District: Democrat: Tommy Sowers, Rolla; Republican: Jo Ann Emerson, Cape Girardeau (incumbent); Bob Parker, Raymondville; ; Libertarian: Rick Vaneven, Chaffee.

State Auditor: Democrat: Susan Montee, Jefferson City (incumbent); Republican: Allen Icet, Chesterfield; Tom Schweich, St. Louis; Libertarian: Charles W. Baum, St. Louis.

State Representative -- District 159: Democrat: Bill D. Burlison, Advance; Republican: Billy Pat Wright, Dexter (incumbent).

State Representative -- District 160: Democrat: Ellen Brandom, Sikeston (incumbent).

State Representative -- District 161: Democrat: Steve Hodges, East Prairie (incumbent); Republican: Ron McCormick, Scott City.

State Representative -- District 162: Democrat: Terry Swinger, Caruthersville (incumbent).

State Representative -- District 163: Democrat: Tom Todd, Campbell (incumbent); Republican: Kent Hampton, Malden.

Candidates filed for Dunklin County races include:

Presiding Commissioner - Democrat: Donald J. Collins (incumbent)

Circuit Clerk - Democrat: Democrat: Paula Gargus (incumbent)

County Clerk - Democrat: Carol Hinesly (incumbent); Republican: Drew Joyce

Prosecuting Attorney - Democrat: Stephen P. Sokoloff (incumbent)

Recorder of Deeds -- Democrat: Susan Luce (incumbent)

Associate Judge, Division II -- Democrat: John C. Spielman (incumbent)

Associate Judge, Division III -- Democrat: Mark Preyer, John M. Beaton (incumbent)