Jason Crowell said he would continue a tradition of Mary Kasten if he is elected to as 158th District state representative this fall.

"Mary Kasten is a very special person," Crowell told a large gathering at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce First Friday Coffee Friday. "She was always available to listen to comments of all people. I will continue that tradition."

Crowell is the Republican candidate for Kasten's position. Kasten, a Republican announced her retirement from the legislature last year.

Crowell and Democratic candidate Tom Neumeyer are both natives of Cape Girardeau.

"I have represented the people on the City Council here for six years," Neumeyer told the group. "Now, I want to represent you on the state level."

Neumeyer and Crowell were among six local candidates appearing before the First Friday crowd.

Other candidates at the coffee included Republican Phyllis Schwab and Democrat Mike Hurst, candidates for public administrator; and Democrat Max Stovall and Republican Joe Gambill, candidates for Cape Girardeau County commissioner.

Crowell, an attorney, told the group his goals are to make Missouri a better place for everyone.

One way to do this is, said Crowell, is to provide a quality education.

Crowell said he would fight to send all the gambling and lottery money to education.

Jefferson City will tell you that these funds currently go to education. "But, what they don't tell you is that the state uses some of the funds which formally went to education for other purposes," he said.

The state needs to return local control to school districts, he said. "And, we need to return some tax dollars to the people who earned them, by lowering taxes," he said.

Neumeyer also favors better education and less tax burdens.

"I have several items of concern," said Neumeyer. "One of these is small business."

"I'm a small business and I know firsthand the challenges that we face," said Neumeyer, who owns and operates Neumeyer Photography and Neumeyer's Bed and breakfast."

Another goal is a revision of the state tax code to a more fair and equitable process, said Neumeyer.

Neumeyer told the group he would work for more funding for career development and technology training, to provide the area with a better pool of skilled employees.

Stovall and Gambill have both served as county commissioners.

Stovall, who is an incumbent commissioner, told the group that Cape County was on the economic move, with more than 650 new jobs over the past couple of years, 115 new bridges, and 10 miles of new paved roads.

"This current commission is doing a good job," said Stovall.

Gambill, retired BioKyowa plant manager, served as commissioner from 1994 to 1996, and says he is looking forward to a return to the position to help oversee continuing improvements.

Gambill beat Stovall in 1994, but lost to Stovall in 1996.

Schwab had to defeat two other Republican candidates to earn the Republican candidacy for public administrator.

"I have lived in the area 35 years," said Schwab. "And, I have the time to help people."

Schwab helps her husband, state Rep. David Schwab in the operation of their farm. She also worked for the late Bill Emerson as campaign field coordinator and as in-district secretary for state Rep. Mary Kasten.

The public administrator is charged with helping people who can't take care of themselves.

Hurst, previously worked for an ambulance service and has worked with Southeast Missouri State University Department of Public Safety for the past four years. If elected, Hurst said he would quit his university job and work full time as public administrator.