Missouri Farm Bureau representatives from four counties voted unanimously Tuesday night to endorse 27th District State Sen. Peter Kinder for re-election over Democratic challenger Rick Althaus.

Farm Bureau chief administrative officer Lowell Mohler said Kinder was endorsed on the first ballot by members representing Perry, Bollinger, Scott and Cape Girardeau counties. The vote came after 18 members of the Farm Bureau met with both candidates for dinner and interviews at Port Cape Girardeau Restaurant.

"I'd say Peter Kinder's excellent voting record over the last four years was a big reason for the endorsement," Mohler said. "He has a 100 percent voting record on 15 issues the Farm Bureau had listed as priorities over the last four years."

Mohler said Kinder has "a strong position on private-property rights and education. And he seems to be in touch with the needs of the farmer."

The candidates were allowed five-minute opening statements and then were interviewed by the Farm Bureau members for 20 minutes. It was the 13th state senatorial race interview the Farm Bureau has done in the last month, Mohler said.

"It's about the same format every time," he said. "And it's all grass roots. It's decided here, not in Jefferson City."