Race for 23rd District State Representative

STATE: Governor \| Lt. Governor \| Attorney General \| Treasurer \| 9th Dist. U.S. Congress \| 23rd Dist. State Rep. \| 25th Dist. State Rep.

COUNTY: Assessor \| Public Administrator \| Southern District Commissioner \| Other races

INTRODUCTION VOTER INFO Registering to vote: If you haven’t done this yet, it’s too late for this primary. In the future, you’ll need to be registered by the fourth Wednesday before an election. If you want to vote in the Nov. 4 general election, for example, you’ll have to register by Oct. 8. You can visit the Boone County clerk’s Web site for details on where and how to register. Where to vote: You can find your polling place at the clerk’s Web site as well. Click on the link “Find your polling place,” then type in your name. Your polling location will be provided. A list of all polling places is also available on the Web site. If you've moved since last election: You’ll need to file a change of address before you vote. You can do this at the clerk’s Web site by completing the “change of address” form online or printing the form and mailing it to Wendy S. Noren, Boone County Clerk, 801 E. Walnut St., Room 236, Columbia, MO 65201-7731. Another option is to simply mail in your name, old address, new address, mailing address (if different), date of birth, telephone number (optional), signature and the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. When to vote: The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. What to take: Bring some form of identification to the polling location. Acceptable forms include a Boone County voter ID card, a driver’s license, a state-issued ID, an ID card from an institution of higher education, a federally issued identification such as a passport, a Social Security card, or a Medicaid or Medicare card, a copy of a current bank statement, a utility bill, or a government document that shows your name and address. What to expect: Boone County’s optical scan voting system requires the voter to darken a circle next to the candidate they choose. In the primary election, voters must request a party-specific ballot. Some polling places also will have electronic voting machines. If you can't go: Absentee ballots are available for those unable to vote in person on Tuesday because of a temporary absence from the county, religious beliefs, military service, incarceration (but retained voting privileges) or confinement due to injury or illness. You can apply for an absentee ballot through the Elections Division of the Boone County Clerk’s Office or vote in person in the office until 5 p.m. the day before the election. For more information: Call the voter information hot line at 875-8683.	RACE FOR 25TH DISTRICT STATE REPRESENTATIVE By JACOB BARKER news@columbiamissourian.com COLUMBIA — Bob Pund, Sean Spence and Mary Still are competing for the Democratic nomination in the Missouri House’s 25th District primary. The nominee will face Republican Ryan Asbridge in the Nov. 4 general election. Democrats Bob Pund Bob Pund grew up in Pacific and attended Southwest Missouri State for two years. A car accident in 1989 paralyzed him from the shoulders down. After recovering, he finished his degree in political science at MU and has lived in Columbia ever since. He has worked for various organizations on behalf of people with disabilities, and since the 2005 Medicaid cuts has become a legislative advocate for health care reform in Jefferson City. Pund said that health care is the main issue in this campaign and that his experience as a patient and an advocate will make him the best representative for health care reform. He also believes education and energy policy are important issues that warrant more attention in the legislature. Sean Spence Sean Spence grew up in Madisonville, Ky., before moving to Columbia to attend MU. He stayed in Columbia for four years after graduating and was executive director of the Democratic State Senate Caucus in 1994-95. He left Columbia for seven years and worked in various marketing jobs, both for private companies and political candidates. In 2004, he ran for state representative in Idaho and lost by only nine votes. When he returned to Columbia, he managed Susan Montee’s successful campaign for state auditor in 2006 and still works for her and other political clients in his consulting practice. Spence said he is a strong supporter of MU and public education, a firm proponent of health care reform and wants Missouri to formulate an economic development plan that supports state-grown businesses rather than paying out-of-state businesses to move to Missouri. Mary Still Mary Still grew up in Fordyce, Ark., and attended the University of Arkansas for three years before moving to Columbia to finish her degree at MU. She has worked for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, as an MU spokeswoman, as communications director and policy adviser for Attorney General Jay Nixon and as communications director for former Gov. Bob Holden. Working in the attorney general’s office for years, Still said she learned that every important state issue lands on that desk and that she has intimate knowledge with most important state issues. She is a strong supporter of public education and MU, and said she would work to reverse Gov. Matt Blunt’s Medicaid cuts. Republican Ryan Asbridge Republican Ryan Asbridge was born and raised in Columbia. He graduated from Rock Bridge High School. He attended MU and earned his bachelor’s degree in educational studies. Other than a short internship in the Missouri House of Representatives, he has not been involved in politics. He worked in various educational jobs, including four years as a classroom teacher. He is a U.S. Navy intelligence reservist, coaches basketball part-time and just finished law school. Asbridge said education is the issue most important to him. If elected, he said, he will be a stronger voice for Columbia and MU as a member of the majority party. Smart economic growth and job creation are also issues that need more attention, he said, as is supporting local law enforcement with block grants to combat rising crime in Columbia.

INTRODUCTION

VOTER INFO

Registering to vote:

If you haven’t done this yet, it’s too late for this primary. In the future, you’ll need to be registered by the fourth Wednesday before an election. If you want to vote in the Nov. 4 general election, for example, you’ll have to register by Oct. 8. You can visit the Boone County clerk’s Web site for details on where and how to register.

Where to vote:

You can find your polling place at the clerk’s Web site as well. Click on the link “Find your polling place,” then type in your name. Your polling location will be provided. A list of all polling places is also available on the Web site.

If you've moved since last election:

You’ll need to file a change of address before you vote. You can do this at the clerk’s Web site by completing the “change of address” form online or printing the form and mailing it to Wendy S. Noren, Boone County Clerk, 801 E. Walnut St., Room 236, Columbia, MO 65201-7731. Another option is to simply mail in your name, old address, new address, mailing address (if different), date of birth, telephone number (optional), signature and the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.

When to vote:

The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

What to take:

Bring some form of identification to the polling location. Acceptable forms include a Boone County voter ID card, a driver’s license, a state-issued ID, an ID card from an institution of higher education, a federally issued identification such as a passport, a Social Security card, or a Medicaid or Medicare card, a copy of a current bank statement, a utility bill, or a government document that shows your name and address.

What to expect:

Boone County’s optical scan voting system requires the voter to darken a circle next to the candidate they choose. In the primary election, voters must request a party-specific ballot. Some polling places also will have electronic voting machines.

If you can't go:

Absentee ballots are available for those unable to vote in person on Tuesday because of a temporary absence from the county, religious beliefs, military service, incarceration (but retained voting privileges) or confinement due to injury or illness. You can apply for an absentee ballot through the Elections Division of the Boone County Clerk’s Office or vote in person in the office until 5 p.m. the day before the election.

For more information:

Call the voter information hot line at 875-8683.

RACE FOR 25TH DISTRICT STATE REPRESENTATIVE

By JACOB BARKER
news@columbiamissourian.com

COLUMBIA — Bob Pund, Sean Spence and Mary Still are competing for the Democratic nomination in the Missouri House’s 25th District primary. The nominee will face Republican Ryan Asbridge in the Nov. 4 general election.

Democrats

Bob Pund

Bob Pund grew up in Pacific and attended Southwest Missouri State for two years.

A car accident in 1989 paralyzed him from the shoulders down. After recovering, he finished his degree in political science at MU and has lived in Columbia ever since.

He has worked for various organizations on behalf of people with disabilities, and since the 2005 Medicaid cuts has become a legislative advocate for health care reform in Jefferson City.

Pund said that health care is the main issue in this campaign and that his experience as a patient and an advocate will make him the best representative for health care reform.

He also believes education and energy policy are important issues that warrant more attention in the legislature.

Sean Spence

Sean Spence grew up in Madisonville, Ky., before moving to Columbia to attend MU.

He stayed in Columbia for four years after graduating and was executive director of the Democratic State Senate Caucus in 1994-95.

He left Columbia for seven years and worked in various marketing jobs, both for private companies and political candidates. In 2004, he ran for state representative in Idaho and lost by only nine votes.

When he returned to Columbia, he managed Susan Montee’s successful campaign for state auditor in 2006 and still works for her and other political clients in his consulting practice.

Spence said he is a strong supporter of MU and public education, a firm proponent of health care reform and wants Missouri to formulate an economic development plan that supports state-grown businesses rather than paying out-of-state businesses to move to Missouri.

Mary Still

Mary Still grew up in Fordyce, Ark., and attended the University of Arkansas for three years before moving to Columbia to finish her degree at MU.

She has worked for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, as an MU spokeswoman, as communications director and policy adviser for Attorney General Jay Nixon and as communications director for former Gov. Bob Holden.

Working in the attorney general’s office for years, Still said she learned that every important state issue lands on that desk and that she has intimate knowledge with most important state issues.

She is a strong supporter of public education and MU, and said she would work to reverse Gov. Matt Blunt’s Medicaid cuts.

Republican

Ryan Asbridge

Republican Ryan Asbridge was born and raised in Columbia. He graduated from Rock Bridge High School. He attended MU and earned his bachelor’s degree in educational studies.

Other than a short internship in the Missouri House of Representatives, he has not been involved in politics. He worked in various educational jobs, including four years as a classroom teacher.

He is a U.S. Navy intelligence reservist, coaches basketball part-time and just finished law school.
Asbridge said education is the issue most important to him.

If elected, he said, he will be a stronger voice for Columbia and MU as a member of the majority party.

Smart economic growth and job creation are also issues that need more attention, he said, as is supporting local law enforcement with block grants to combat rising crime in Columbia.