State Sen. Brad Lager blew into Cape Girardeau on Friday, delivering a speech that was cut short by tornado warnings -- but was still one he hoped would help convince voters to oust the man whose hometown he was visiting.

Lager, R-Savannah, spoke for a few minutes at a meeting of the Cape Girardeau County Republican Women's Club, but he never mentioned Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder by name.

Instead, the lieutenant governor candidate focused on his conservative beliefs and the direction he sees the state is headed unless it reverses course.

"I have been involved with government for one simple reason: I believe we can do better," he said before the 30 or so who had gathered at Dexter Bar-B-Que.

From 2002 to 2006, Lager served as the 4th District representative in the Missouri House, rising to become House Budget chairman. In 2006, Lager was elected to represent the 16 counties of the 12th Senate District and was re-elected in 2010, carrying every county in the district. Lager is chairman of the Senate Committee for Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment.

While no one mentioned Kinder publicly at the luncheon, he was mentioned in a release announcing Lager's visit. The release said that, "many people in the area are familiar with Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, but they probably do not know his Republican primary opponent."

Club president Holly Lintner added, "It is important that voters have the opportunity to interact with all the candidates so they can identify the candidate who most closely aligns with their values. The Republican Women's Club as well as the Pachyderm Club is committed to providing these opportunities for voters and candidates."

Lager and Kinder are two of the Republican candidates for lieutenant governor, but there are several others who have filed to replace Kinder, who has served two terms. Also on the Republican ticket are Charles W. Kullmann of St. Louis and Mike Carter of St. Charles.

Six Democrats have also filed for the post, including former state auditor Susan Montee of Jefferson City, former state representative Judy Baker of Columbia, former state representative Sara Lampe of St. Louis, former Saline County presiding commissioner Becky Lee Plattner, Dennis Weisenburger of St. Joseph and Fred Kratky of St. Louis.

During his talk, Lager -- who was introduced by state Sen. Jason Crowell of Cape Girardeau -- reiterated the GOP adage that government doesn't create jobs, the private sector does. What government can do, he said, is create a better environment for business.

He noted that Missouri businesses are more prone to be sued, there are too many regulations on the books that hamper business and that taxes are out of whack here.

"The results are pretty disconcerting," Lager said. "The only way to change those is to change the status quo."

The primary is Aug. 7.

smoyers@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

236 S. Broadview St., Cape Girardeau, MO