Kansas City man seeking 8th District nomination

A Kansas City, Mo., businessman, Pedro Sotelo, is the latest Republican to formally announce his intent to seek a committee's nomination to run in a special election for the 8th Congressional District.

Sotelo, 41, has spent several years working in business development and management, is a combat veteran and a political newcomer, according to a release sent from a spokesperson to members of the Republican committee Monday. He has launched a website related to his bid for the nomination, www.votingforpedro.com.

Committee members say there is no residency requirement to run in the 8th district during a special election. The district covers 30 counties in southern and eastern Missouri.

Rep. Jo Ann Emerson announced in early December she will soon leave Congress to become president and CEO of a not-for-profit organization that represents the interests of public power districts and rural electric cooperatives.

Many Republicans have floated their names in hopes of being chosen by the committee, and a few others, including Missouri Republican Party executive director Lloyd Smith and former Congressman Wendell Bailey, have said they are formally seeking the nomination.