http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/spotlighto_392.mp3
This race features three candidates in a district that covers northern Springfield. The district is almost evenly split between voters who identify themselves as democrats and voters who say they're republicans. KSMU's Missy Shelton repoorts.
THERE ARE THREE CANDIDATES IN THIS RACE.
BESIDES THE USUAL REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT, THERE'S ALSO A LIBERTARIAN.
THERE IS AN INCUMBENT IN THIS RACE.
REPUBLICAN MARK WRIGHT HAS HELD THIS HOUSE SEAT FOR 3 TERMS AND HE'S HOPING FOR ONE MORE TERM IN THE HOUSE.
IT WOULD BE HIS LAST BECAUSE TERM LIMITS PREVENT HIM FROM SERVING MORE THAN 4 TERMS.
HE SAYS THIS CAMPAIGN IS BITTERSWEET.
FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, MARK WRIGHT HAS SERVED AS ASSISTANT MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER IN THE HOUSE.
HE SAYS HIS CONSTITUENTS SHOULD CONSIDER RE-ELECTING HIM SINCE HE'S HOPING TO RETAIN THAT LEADERSHIP POSITION.
HAVING AN OPPONENT WHO IS PART OF THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP MAKES THIS RACE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT FOR DEMOCRAT BILL SCZEPANSKI, WHO BECAUSE OF HIS DIFFICULT TO REMEMBER LAST NAME IS CAMPAIGNING AS JUST PLAIN BILL.
SCZEPANKSI WHO HAS AN UNKNOWN NEUROLOGICAL PAIN DISORDER SAYS HE KNOWS FIRST HAND HOW TO DEAL WITH SOCIAL SERVICE ISSUES THAT CONFRONT LAWMAKERS.
THE THIRD PARTY CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE IS LIBERTARIAN MELLONY MIZER.
IT'S A LITTLE UNUSUAL FOR A THIRD PARTY CANDIDATE TO RUN FOR A HOUSE SEAT.
BUT MIZER SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT TO OFFER VOICES A THIRD CHOICE IN THIS RACE.
SHE SAYS SHE WOULD APPROACH LAWMAKING WITH A LIBERTARIAN POINT OF VIEW.
MIZER SAYS SHE'S NOT DOING MUCH IN THE WAY OF FUNDRAISING.
SHE SAYS WHEN SHE TELLS PEOPLE SHE'S A LIBERTARIAN RUNNING FOR THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SHE GETS ONE OF TWO RESPONSES.
TUNE IN THIS AFTERNOON DURING ALL THINGS CONSIDERED WHEN WE EXAMINE THE ISSUES EACH OF THESE CANDIDATES WOULD MAKE A PRIORITY IF THEY'RE ELECTED.