Two state representatives are seeking the Republican nomination to try to replace term-limited State Sen. Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg) in the Missouri Senate in January.
The sprawling six-county district includes three counties in the 939 the Eagle listening area: Cooper, Howard and Saline. State Rep. Kurtis Gregory (R-Marshall) chairs the Missouri House Rules Regulatory Overnight Committee, while State Rep. Doug Richey (R-Excelsior Springs) chairs the House Special Committee on Government Accountability. Richey is also co-chair of the Joint Committee on Education.
Richey tells 939 the Eagle that a lot of people in Jefferson City think education choice is only a concern with suburban voters:
“I’m not finding that to be the case. When I’m knocking doors and talking to people in rural Missouri, they are just as concerned about the quality of education for their children. And everyone knows that I have been a champion for education choice,” Richey says.
As for Representative Gregory, he’s a former Mizzou football captain who helped pass the bipartisan name, image and likeness legislation. Representative Gregory tells 939 the Eagle that voters are also concerned about illegal immigration:
“You know I was on the in the Missouri House of Representatives to file a resolution urging the governor to send troops, or (Missouri) National Guard, to the border to try to help Texas out with their border mission. I was proud to do that. Our boys apprehended five people off the terrorist watch list. Why are they trying to come across the border. I don’t know Brian, you tell me,” says Gregory/
Missouri’s gas tax has been an issue of disagreement between the two candidates. Representative Richey tells 939 the Eagle that the gas tax is an issue with voters:
“You know I’ve had many people throughout the district that have raised questions about taxes, you know the gas tax in particular. I’ve had a number of people, just knocking the doors, I don’t bring it up and they ask how did you vote on the gas tax, right. And they are delighted to find that I voted against it,” Richey says.
But Representative Gregory tells 939 the Eagle that voters in his rural district wanted something done with unsafe roads and told him about it when he first ran in 2020. Gregory notes the gas tax is the primary funding source for Missouri roads and bridges:
“For instance, we had a bridge in Saline County that just got replaced. It had holes in the deck, there was a steel plate on it. It was a still a one-lane bridge on one of our rural-lettered routes. And that’s what people were talking about and concerned with,” says Gregory.
Representative Gregory says his constituents in rural Missouri have thanked him for that vote, due to unsafe roads.
Both candidates have been pounding the pavement in the heat, going door-to-door to meet with voters. Representative Richey tells 939 the Eagle that he’s worked to increase funding for nursing home reimbursements. He says he’ll focus on nursing home residents and others if he wins the primary and the November general election:
“We need to be doing a better job as a state caring for those who are truly most vulnerable among us, and that’s the aged, the blind and the disabled. And I’ve been working aggressively in that space. And I truly hope with a win (in August and November) to be able to be on the Senate Appropriations Committee,” Representative Richey says.
The massive district also includes western Missouri’s Lafayette, Ray and Clay counties. Representative Gregory tells 939 that voters in Clay county and elsewhere are worried about the Chiefs and Royals possibly moving, as he goes door-to-door:
“And I tell them, I said I want to do absolutely everything I can within my power to make sure they stay in the state of Missouri, they belong here. But I will ask them back, what will you be okay with us doing? I want to put it back on the people I’m talking to. Because I say I don’t want to give away everything in the kitchen sink and get nothing in return. I want to make sure that it’s a good deal for the taxpayers,” Representative Gregory says.
Lawmakers in Kansas have been working to try to lure the Chiefs and possibly the Royals to the Sunflower state.
The winner of Tuesday’s Gregory-Richey primary will face Liberty Democrat Jim Bates in November. A reminder that we’ll have live election night coverage tomorrow evening starting at 7 on 939 the Eagle.
