http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/spotlighto_970.mp3
This race is attracting statewide and even national attention. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
THE CANDIDATES IN THIS RACE HAVE DRAWN NATIONAL ATTENTION.
DURING MY INTERVIEW LAST WEEK WITH THE INCUMBENT, REPUBLICAN LARRY MORRIS, HE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM A REPORTER WITH THE MAGAZINE "THE NATION."
AND HIS OPPONENT, DEMOCRAT SARA LAMPE ALSO RECEIVED A CALL FROM THIS NATIONAL MAGAZINE.
THIS RACE IS GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION AROUND THE STATE BECAUSE IT'S VIEWED AS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE.
THIS DISTRICT COVERS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL SPRINGFIELD INCLUDING AREAS AROUND SOUTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY.
MORRIS ACKNOWLEDGES THIS IS A TOUGHT RACE.
THAT ENORMOUS NAME RECOGNITION COMES FROM SARA LAMPE'S EXPERIENCE BUILDING SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL'S PROGRAM FOR GIFTED CHILDREN.
LAMPE SAYS IT'S HER EXPERIENCE AS AN EDUCATOR THAT MADE HER WANT TO RUN.
BEFORE HE WAS ELECTED TWO YEARS AGO, MORRIS WORKED AS A COUNSELOR...HE SAYS HE DEALT PRIMARILY WITH MARRIED COUPLES.
MORRIS SAYS HE'S HAD TO LET HIS COUNSELING PRACTICE GO SO HE CAN FOCUS EXCLUSIVELY ON BEING A LAWMAKER.
HE SAYS HE DOESN'T MEASURE HIS SUCCESS AS A LEGISLATOR IN TERMS OF HOW MANY OF HIS BILLS PASSED.
AS A CANDIDATE, LAMPE STILL TALKS LIKE AN EDUCATOR.
SHE USES AN ANALOGY FROM HER DAYS AS AN EDUCATOR TO EXPLAIN WHY SHE BELIEVES GOVERNMENT HAS A DUTY TO ITS CITIZENS.
BECAUSE THIS HOUSE RACE IS SO COMPETITIVE, LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY WILL GET SPENT BY BOTH SIDES.
SARA LAMPE SAYS SHE'S RAISED MORE THAN 100 THOUSAND DOLLARS.
SO WITH A WELL-FUNDED OPPONENT, LARRY MORRIS SAYS HE EXPECTS TO SPEND A MINIMUM OF 60 THOUSAND DOLLARS.
AND HE SAYS SOME OF THAT MIGHT BE FOR TELEVISION COMMERCIALS.
TUNE IN THIS AFTERNOON DURING ALL THINGS CONSIDERED WHEN YOU CAN HEAR WHERE THE CANDIDATES IN THIS HOUSE RACE STAND ON ISSUES IMPORTANT TO VOTERS IN SOUTHWEST MISSOURI.