Redistricting shake-up still being felt in 3rd Senate District campaigns

When Gary Romine launched his candidacy for a Missouri Senate seat in 2009, the competition in the 3rd District looked sparse, and the Farmington businessman hoped it would stay that way.

Then redistricting happened.

The new map of Senate districts changed not only the 3rd District's boundaries, but also the political landscape, drawing interest from fellow Republicans and at least one Democrat looking for a place to land.

"As the lay of the land looked then, there was not another political candidate or anyone else interested in running," Romine said. "That's all changed."

Now, the new district has drawn one formal challenger -- former state representative Pat Naeger of Perryville. State Rep. Ellen Brandom, R-Sikeston, is said to be considering a run for the new district.

Naeger's entry into the race last week means there will at least be a Republican primary next August that would be a three-way race if Brandom opts in.

And there could be a race in the general election next November as well.

On Wednesday, Rep. Joe Fallert, D-Ste. Genevieve, confirmed he was at least looking at a run for the 3rd District.

"I'm considering it," Fallert said. "I am looking at and pulling numbers on the 3rd Senate District and trying to make a decision."

Fallert currently serves in the 104th House District, which includes Ste. Genevieve and Jefferson counties. With the new map, Fallert said, he could run for the new 115th or 116th House districts, but term limits leave him only two more years that he can serve in the House.

"So do I want to do all this for a two-year term or make an attempt at the Senate?" Fallert said. "Those are the options I'm weighing."

But Fallert thinks a Democrat can win in the new district, saying that "people are going to be looking at individuals more closely than the letters after their name."

Brandom had intended to run for the existing 27th Senate District, which included Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Madison, Mississippi and Perry counties and her home county of Scott.

Now, the new 3rd Senate District includes Cape Girardeau, Perry, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve counties, meaning that Brandom would have to move to run. Brandom did not return phone calls Wednesday seeking comment.

The first Senate map, drawn by a panel of appellate court judges, was released in November. More confusion was created last week when the panel released a second statewide version. However, the newest version did not change the 3rd District.

The new boundaries take effect once new office holders are sworn in next year.

But one Republican leader worried about the fact that none of the candidates being talked about are from Cape Girardeau County, the biggest county in the district. Holly Lintner is the Republican Committee chairwoman for the 27th Senate District, and she said both Romine and Naeger are good candidates. But she said she also knows local and county government officials rely heavily on having a local connection, a "direct line" to Jefferson City.

Cape Girardeau has been the hometown for the last two 27th District senators, Jason Crowell and Peter Kinder, meaning a state senator has been from Cape Girardeau for every year since 1992.

"This has proved worthwhile in many situations important to our growth as a county," Lintner said, citing the Nordenia expansion efforts.

Even Brandom, Lintner said, has valuable relationships in Cape Girardeau County and has been meeting with local officials for many months.

"It will be interesting to see if Cape County can cultivate one of their own for the seat before it's too late," Lintner said.

But the existing candidates said that should not be a factor.

"Everybody wants that senator to be from their county," said Naeger, who served in the House from 1995 to 2002. "More important is whether you're an effective leader."

The fundraising edge of the declared candidates so far goes to Romine. As of the most recent campaign fundraising report in October, Romine had $48,550. Naeger has yet to form a campaign committee, but he said he intends to do that in the next few days.

smoyers@semissourian.com

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