SerpApi.Org
Cole County voters heard from candidates in three contested Republican primaries at a forum on Wednesday.
The candidates included those running for Missouri House Districts 59 and 60 and Missouri Senate District 6.
“The big reason that we do this is because we want to make sure that the voters in our community are very well informed when they go to the ballot,” said Shanon Hawk, representing the Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce, which helped host the forum.
House seat 59 includes most of Cole County, while House seat 60 includes Jefferson City.
Senate seat 6 encompasses Cole, Camden, Miller, Moniteau and Morgan counties.
“People want to know where a candidate stands. We’ve got two important House seats in this area and our Senate seat uniquely all up at the same time,” said Ron Fitzwater, Mayor of Jefferson City. “I think people are a little concerned; we’ve got to get good people in there.”
The Republicans in the primary for House seat 59 include Vic Rackers, Glenn Reynolds and Carrie Tergin.
The Republicans in the primary for House seat 60 include Kyerra Johnson-Massey, Shane Kampeter and Scott Spencer.
The Republicans at the forum in the primary for Senate seat 6 include Ike Skelton, Derrick Spicer, Dr. Lisa Thomas, Rudy Veit and Jake Vogel.
The forum’s questions included topics of concern for Missourian voters from abortion and child care to the state budget.
One topic that sparked the most disagreement among Senate seat 6 candidates was how each candidate plans to vote on Amendment 5, the potential phaseout of the state income tax.
“Amendment 5 is absolutely a ‘let’s pass it to see what’s in it. I’m totally opposed to Amendment 5,” said Skelton, Republican candidate for Senate District 6.
“I want to know the plan. This is a plan; it may not be perfect, but I’m going to support [Amendment 5],” said Vogel, Republican candidate for Senate District 6.
Candidates Dr. Thomas and Veit each said they would vote no on Amendment 5, while Derrick Spicer agreed with Vogel.
The topic of Amendment 5, as well as the four other Amendments Missouri will vote on in August and November, was important for voters.
“I was interested in everything that the candidates from the 59th and 60th Representative Districts had to say about the amendments,” said Ann Holland, who attended the forum.
The forum helped clarify the decision for Cole County voters before they get to the ballot box on August 4.
“Oh, absolutely,” said Holland when asked if the forum helped clear up who she would vote for.
All three races have Democrats running unopposed in the primaries in August.
Two of the Democratic candidates were in attendance at the forum.
Suzanne Luther, who is running for House District 60, and Rebecca Kroll, who is running for House District 59, were both at the forum.
Missouri voters will vote in the primary election on August 4, with the general election on November 3.
