Cape Girardeau doctor to run as write-in for 8th District

A Cape Girardeau doctor who calls himself a "Missouri moderate conservative with common sense" has announced he is running for the 8th Congressional District as an independent write-in candidate.

Dr. Robert George, 79, has run his own private practice in Cape Girardeau since 1996. This is George's first time seeking an elected office.

Meanwhile, two local forums for the candidates have been scheduled, one for April 25 and another for May 22.

George said he wants to serve in Congress because he believes its current members only have an allegiance to what their party heads want, as opposed to the people who have elected them. He also wants to see more compromise on issues, he said.

"All I ever hear is 'no, no no.' There has to be some things that both these sides put out that is acceptable to other people," he said.

George also said he does not believe "politicians should get lifelong benefits when they are no longer serving the people, and that Washington has to stop waste and fraud that is ruining the country."

He is not going to raise any money for his campaign, he said, and will primarily use word-of-mouth to spread news of his candidacy.

"That's the way I have always practiced medicine," he said. "It's the best advertisement you can get."

George also said he is open to participation in candidate forums, several of which are planned in the weeks leading up to the June 4 special election.

The vacancy in the 8th Congressional District is because of the resignation of Jo Ann Emerson, who left Congress in January to become CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Emerson, a Republican, held the seat for 16 years.

A candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters and public radio station KRCU is set for 7 p.m. April 25 at the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center. Another forum hosted by the Cape County Tea Party will be at 6:30 p.m. May 22 at the Cape Girardeau Public Library.

As of Tuesday, four candidates were officially filed with the Missouri Secretary of State's Office to run in the special election: Doug Enyart of the Constitution Party; Democrat Steve Hodges; Libertarian Bill Slantz; and Republican Jason Smith. All were nominated by their parties' congressional committees. An independent, Thomas Brown, is seeking to have his name placed on the ballot by gathering just more than 6,000 petition signatures. Brown and any other independent candidates must have signatures certified by the Missouri Secretary of State by 5 p.m. Saturday to appear on the ballot.

eragan@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

1080 S. Silver Springs Road, Cape Girardeau, MO

711 N. Clark St., Cape Girardeau, MO