Democratic hopefuls set sights on 147th

Voters in the 147th District will have a decision to make among two Democratic candidates running for the state House seat.

The position is held by Republican incumbent Kathy Swan.

Gary L. Gaines and Blake Hopper both hope to see their name on the November ballot, where they will go up against Swan and Libertarian candidate Greg Tlapek.

Gaines, a retired engineer who served on the school board at Dexter, Missouri, for 12 years, ran unsuccessfully in the 2012 primary for state representative in the 151st district. It was a learning experience Gaines said he enjoyed, just as he's enjoyed going door-to-door over the past few months meeting voters in Cape Girardeau.

It's not easy running as a Democrat in such a conservative area, he admits, but said most people have been courteous. He also said the people who take a couple of minutes to speak with him might even find they connect with him as a candidate.

"I tell people I've always been an independent, and by that I mean I vote for whoever I think's best for the office," Gaines said. "But when you run for office you've got to pick a side and although I'm very conservative on money issues, I'm more moderate on social issues."

He adds that he supports women's rights, gay rights and immigrants' rights.

Gaines said being fiscally conservative is a value many voters seem to share with him and it's one that could bring about some positive change in the state's capital.

"I'm very conservative on money issues. I personally think the biggest problem facing this country is our national deficit ..." he said.

He also said he shares a concern with voters about the future of the middle class. He's noticed that finding a job in the area that pays more than the minimum wage isn't easy, and that even families who seem to be in the upper middle class can struggle when it comes to large costs such as college tuition.

"I've been out for the last, more than two months, knocking on doors, and probably the thing I hear the most is about the plight of the middle class, if you will," Gaines said. "The lack of good jobs that you can make a good living at and raise a family on, the fact that more of the middle class is sinking into poverty. ... In this country we'd always hoped that our kids would do better than we have and that for the most part has been true, but it's not so much true anymore."

Politicians often take care of the rich and a great number of the public take care of the poor through donations and taxes, he said, but the middle class is often overlooked. It's an issue he said he plans to champion if elected and hopes it's one to which voters connect.

If he moves past the primary, Gaines said he looks forward to the opportunity to continue knocking on doors.

"As I told my wife, win or lose, I'm going to be OK," he said. "I hope I win, but I just enjoy talking and connecting with people."

Several attempts to contact Hopper, the opposing Democratic candidate, were unsuccessful.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

Cape Girardeau, Mo.