Boyd trying again for House seat

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Less than a year ago, Neal E. Boyd was in an election fight for a seat in the Missouri House of Representatives. And now, he announced Thursday, he is ready to try it again.

"This time will be a very different challenge," Boyd, a Sikeston native and the 2008 winner of "America's Got Talent" television talent contest, said in a news release.

Boyd, a Republican, was easily defeated by Democratic incumbent Steve Hodges last time around, who garnered 66 percent of the vote in November's election for the 149th District.

But next year is another chance for Boyd to take the seat. Hodges is term-limited, preventing him from running for re-election. No Democrats have publicly announced interest in the seat, and no other Republicans have indicated an intent to run for the district, meaning no primary is set.

If Boyd were to win a contested primary and the general election in 2014, Republicans would hold seats in every Southeast Missouri district if all the current state representatives were re-elected or replaced by someone from their party. The 149th is the only district in the region still held by a Democrat.

The district's boundaries include a significant portion of Mississippi County, a small area of Scott County (including about half of Sikeston), all of New Madrid County and the northern part of Pemiscot County.

A focus for both candidates in the last race was job creation and poverty, because the 149th is one of the poorest districts in the state. Again during his announcement Thursday, Boyd immediately hit on that topic.

"We have many challenges in this district, but having grown up here, I believe in the potential of Southeast Missouri and our citizens," he said. "I believe we will overcome this severe poverty crisis with fresh ideas and new opportunities for jobs."

As of Thursday, no fundraising figures for Boyd had been reported to the Missouri Ethics Commission.

His past political experience includes working in the campaigns and district offices of several local Republican officeholders. He also served on two statewide workforce boards through gubernatorial appointments.

Boyd also sought to replace Rep. Ellen Brandom, a Sikeston Republican who left office for the state Senate. But Boyd dropped out of original 160th District race, citing health issues.

Boyd co-owns an insurance company, but is best known for his opera singing, for which he has given performances locally and nationally and won "America's Got Talent."

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

Sikeston, MO