JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- If Republicans win control of the House of Representatives, two Southeast Missouri lawmakers hope to claim top leadership positions in the chamber.

State Rep. Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill, is seeking to become the next House speaker pro tem, a post second only to the House speaker and often a springboard to the top job. Meanwhile, state Rep. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, is vying for majority floor leader, the No. 3 ranking House post.

However, to fulfill their ambitions, Republicans will have to claim a majority in the 163-seat chamber for the first time since 1954. The party needs a net gain of six seats in the Nov. 5 elections to reach that goal.

Jetton, 35, said he is currently unopposed for speaker pro tem within the House Republican Caucus, as is Minority Floor Leader Catherine Hanaway, R-Warson Woods, in her bid for the speakership. However, Jetton said the first hurdle is securing victory in November. Jetton is spearheading the drive for a majority as head of the House Republican Campaign Committee.

"All of the incumbents pretty much have committed to me," Jetton said. "But I can't be speaker pro tem if we can't win 82 seats."

Crowell, 30, is running against state Rep. Richard Byrd, R-Kirkwood, for the job of majority floor leader, a post which controls the flow of legislation on the House floor. Crowell was traveling to the state capital on Tuesday to attend the General Assembly's annual veto session on Wednesday and could not be reached for comment.

Jetton, Crowell and Byrd are each running for their second terms. Jetton and Byrd are unopposed. Crowell has no Democratic opponent but is being challenged by Libertarian C. Darby Ulery of Cape Girardeau.

Fewer incumbents

Because term limits are forcing mass turnover in the House, no more than 36 Republican incumbents will be returning when the legislature convenes in January. As a result, freshman lawmakers will have a significant say in who holds leadership posts within the chamber.

All the Republican leadership hopefuls are making substantial financial contributions to GOP candidates, both to bolster the party's chances of a takeover and to further their individual support among incoming members. Democrats seeking leadership positions should their party continue its 48-year run in charge are likewise being generous to Democratic candidates.

If Democrats retain House control, Jetton said he was unsure if he would seek a leadership position within the House GOP Caucus. Hanaway has said she may not continue as the ranking Republican if the party's bid for a majority fails.

"Right now we are working as hard as we can, and I feel we can do this," Jetton said. "But we could lose. It is very wide open and either party could take the House."

mpowers@semissourian.com

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