JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A Cape Girardeau lawyer and a Perryville doctor are Republican candidates for different seats in the House of Representatives likely to be left open as the incumbents look to move up to the Senate.

Nathan Cooper, who works for the Jackson-based Lichtenegger law firm but resides in Cape Girardeau, will run for the seat currently held by House Majority Floor Leader Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau.

Dr. Steven Tilley, an optometrist who practices in Perryville and Marble Hill, is looking to replace state Rep. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington.

Cooper and Tilley, neither of whom has previously sought public office, are the first candidates to enter the races for those open seats in 2004 elections.

Cooper, who will turn 30 later this month, is a member of the Cape Girardeau County Republican Central Committee. He described himself as a "fiscal and social conservative on most issues."

He earned a bachelor's degree from Southeast Missouri State University in 1996 and a law degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1999. He is single.

Former Republican state Rep. Mary Kasten of Cape Girardeau, who held the 158th District seat from 1983 to 2001, is Cooper's campaign treasurer.

The district represents the bulk of the city of Cape Girardeau.

Cooper said he would formally announce his campaign in October, after Crowell officially declares his candidacy for Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder's seat.

Former state Rep. Pat Naeger of Perryville also plans to seek the Republican nomination for the seat. Kinder, of Cape Girardeau, hopes to be the GOP choice for lieutenant governor.

Tilley, 32, said his campaign will begin in earnest once Engler makes a firm decision on running for a neighboring Senate seat that is currently without local representation.

The electoral power in the 106th District is centered in St. Francois County, especially Farmington, though the district also includes parts of Ste. Genevieve and Perry counties.

"For a candidate from Perryville to do well, you have to have significant support from Farmington," Tilley said.

He believes he will have that support considering Engler has encouraged him to seek the seat. Tilley was the treasurer of Engler's House campaign.

Tilley said he advocates smaller government, gun rights and a pro-life position on abortion.

Tilley earned a bachelor's degree from Southeast in 1994 and graduated from the UMSL school of optometry in 1998. He practices with his father, Dr. Everett Tilley.

His wife, Kellie, is a pharmacist in Perryville. They have two daughters, Kourtney, 9, and Korrin, 7.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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