Race to Succeed Rep. Jo Ann Emerson Gets Clearer

Rep. Jo Ann Emerson initially expected to resign at the end of February when she announced her desire to take a post in the private sector. Instead, the Associated Press reported Friday she will depart Tuesday, the day after President Barack Obama's public inauguration. Democrats have finally expressed interest in the seat. A new article reveals the process to select candidates for the general election favors those people who have influence within local political parties.

* Emerson first wanted to make her departure "minimize the cost and inconvenience involved" by resigning as late as possible to coincide with the April 2 general election. Missouri law states political parties have two weeks to find replacement candidates upon a vacancy in the House. Emerson's early departure will accelerate the process of choosing nominees.

* Around a dozen Republicans are interested in the seat in Missouri's 8th Congressional District, according to the AP article. Two forums were held in the largely conservative area in the southeast part of the state. A Republican has held the seat since 1981.

* Votes in the district favor those with influential ties within the Republican Party. An Associated Press piece reveals more details regarding the process of selecting party nominees. There are 86 people eligible to cast votes, comprising a large committee for the 8th District. Some of those committee members don't even live in the area.

* Janet Engelbach told the AP she plans to cast two votes for the same nominee. She is the chairwoman for two entities in Jefferson County and gets to vote twice. All told, 14 out of 86 people get to cast two votes. More than 25 out of 100 votes are doubled.

* MaryPat Luebbering was interviewed in the same AP article. She gets to cast to cast a vote even though she lives in the 3rd District. The reason is that the 62nd state house district stretches down into the 8th District. State districts differ from federal ones.

* Some Republican committees in the vast 8th District won't even get to vote. That's because local leaders should to have been chosen by August under state law. Pemiscot County is one example where county and state House districts failed to name a chair and vice chair in time.

* At least four Democrats have expressed interest in the seat. The Southeast Missourian reports two prominent candidates are likely to vie for the Democratic nomination with the same committee process used by Republicans. Barry Aycock, owner of an agricultural manufacturing firm, hasn't yet decided to run. State Rep. Linda Black is also interested. Poplar Bluff, Mo., chiropractor Jack Rushin, who ran against Emerson in November, is considering a run. Todd Mahn, a businessman from De Soto, Mo., also expressed interest.

* Aycock told the Southeast Missourian several Republicans may decide to run as independents if they are not chosen by the committee as the party's representative. If that is the case, a conservative Democrat such as Black or Aycock could win the race.

William Browning, a lifelong Missouri resident, writes about local and state issues for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Born in St. Louis, Browning earned his bachelor's degree in English from the University of Missouri. He currently resides in Branson.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/race-succeed-rep-jo-ann-emerson-gets-clearer-185300943.html

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