Emerson draws 8th District challenges from Parker, Rushin

If U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson wants to retain her 8th District congressional seat for a ninth term in the U.S. House, she will have to beat Raymondville rancher Bob Parker again in the August primary and Democratic newcomer Jack Rushin, a chiropractor from Poplar Bluff in the general election three months later.

All three have filed with the secretary of state's office, Parker on Feb. 28 and both Emerson and Rushin on Thursday. Emerson, of Cape Girardeau, will face Parker in an Aug. 7 Republican primary and, if she wins, Rushin on Nov. 6.

Emerson has represented the district since 1996 when she took over for her late husband, Bill, who was first elected in 1981.

"I love what I do," Emerson said. "I've done it now longer than my late husband did, and I never expected to be doing this so long. But every single time an election comes on, we've got so many things on which we're working."

But her opponents are hoping voters are ready for change.

Jo Ann Emerson

Rushin is the owner of Rushin Chiropractic Center in Poplar Bluff and serves on the Missouri State Chiropractic Association, the International Chiropractic Association and was appointed as a member of the Missouri State Board of Chiropractic Examiners in 2003.

After graduating from high school, Rushin graduated cum laude from Life College of Chiropractic in December 1980. Rushin practiced in Puxico before moving his practice to Poplar Bluff in 1988.

"I have had political views most of my adult life about things I think are important or think need attention," Rushin said.

Jack Rushin

In his years in professional associations, Rushin served as insurance, legal and legislative chairman. He noted that he's been to Washington, D.C., and Jefferson City to lobby for patient rights and health care concerns.

"I've been low profile in regards to a lot of things, but not in regards to health care or my profession," he said. "I think I have a pretty good background on the fundamentals of certain aspects of government. I think those experiences are going to aid me greatly in running for the 8th Congressional District."

Parker, who lost to Emerson in the 2010 primary before Emerson beat Democrat Tommy Sowers, could not be reached for comment Friday. Parker has raised beef cattle for 35 years.

"We are tired of being tired here in southern Missouri," Parker has said. "We have seen our good jobs go overseas, our rural economy devastated."

While Rushin has yet to file any campaign disclosure forms, Emerson as expected has a hefty lead in fundraising. According to the most recent filings with the Federal Election Commission, she had more than $212,000 cash on-hand. Parker's filing revealed that he had $4,179 in cash, but had also incurred $6,877 in debt.

Both Rushin and Emerson pointed to health care reform as reasons they want to run, although they are on opposite sides of the issue. Emerson said she will continue to work to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was promoted by President Barack Obama and which opponents deride as "ObamaCare." The law reforms aspects of the private health insurance industry and public health insurance programs.

As chairwoman of the subcommittee on financial services and general government, Emerson has worked to block implementation of the program. She also voted in the House to repeal it several times.

"I'm not a fan of it whatsoever," she said. "I think it will be a huge detriment to business economic development and job growth in this country. So as long as I have the ability to have an impact on the debate, I think that's a fairly significant reason for me to keep on running."

Rushin, who considers himself a middle-of-the-road Democrat, doesn't see it that way. He does believe there is a need for health care reform, though he wasn't "particularly excited" about the way it turned out.

"The bottom line is there has to be something done," he said. "We need to look at possibilities for that. During eight years of the [George W.] Bush presidency, this was never addressed. President Obama did address it."

Any Democrat looks to have a tough road to winning the 8th District seat. No Democrat has held the seat in three decades. In 2010, Sowers raised more than $1 million, saw national media exposure and looked to at least make it interesting. On Election Day, Emerson beat Sowers with 65 percent of the vote.

Rushin said he's trying to be realistic.

"I'm going to do my best and give it 100 percent," he said. "My expectations are to have a good race, to run hard and the main thing is to have a dialogue with voters and citizens of the 8th District on actual solutions to problems."

smoyers@semissourian.com

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Raymondville, MO

Poplar Bluff, MO