July 2004

PETTIS COUNTY REPUBLICAN

VOLUME XXII, No. 2 July 6, 2004

UPCOMING EVENTS

ROBERT "SKIP" SMITH FUNDRAISER

The Committee to Elect Robert "Skip" Smith Coroner is sponsoring a fund raiser at the Larry and Rosalee Wilson farm, located 27143 Prairie Road, Sedalia, Missouri, on July 17, 2004, from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $10.00. To get to the farm, travel West on 16th Street from Sedalia, then South on Prairie Road. Tickets may be obtained by telephoning Skip Smith. All proceeds will be used to elect Skip Smith as the next Pettis County Coroner.

63rd ANNUAL JOHN C. RYAN PICNIC

Speaker Catherine Hanaway

The Pettis County Republican Party will sponsor the 63rd Annual John C. Ryan Picnic, on Thursday, July 22, 2004, at 6:00 p.m. This years celebration will be held at Shelter House No. 3 at Liberty Park, Sedalia, Missouri. The keynote address will be delivered by Missouri House Speaker Catherine Hanaway. Catherine Hanaway is running for Missouri Secretary of State. This summer picnic traces its origin to the picnic in 1942 which was originally hosted by the late Missouri State Senator John C. Ryan. The John C. Ryan picnic has become the annual summer celebration of Republicans in our community. Meat and drink will be provided. All participants are asked to bring their own service and covered dishes. Many statewide and local candidates standing election in the August primary are expected to attend. If you have questions, please contact Carla Young Pettis County Chair.

PRIMARY ELECTION

Republican Primary voters will help decide Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate, Missouri Governor, other state-wide offices, Congress and State Representatives in the 116th, 117th, 118th and 120th Districts, and all County positions.

Contested races include:
US REPRESENTATIVE 4th DISTRICT: Steve Morrow, James Noland and Jeff Parnell, candidates.
SHERIFF: Gary Starke and Kevin Bond, candidates
ASSESSOR: Matt Mergen and Floyd Self, candidates

Unopposed Candidates include:
116th DIST REPRESENTATIVE: Tom Self
117th DIST REPRESENTATIVE: Kenny Jones
118th DIST REPRESENTATIVE: Todd Smith
120th DIST REPRESENTATIVE: Shannon Cooper
EASTERN COMMISSIONER: Rod Lindemann

Unopposed Primary Candidates include:
WESTERN COMMISSIONER: Larry Wilson
CORONER: Robert "Skip" Smith
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR: Dean Dohrman

Please be sure to take a Republican ballot on Tuesday, August 3, 2004.

PETTIS COUNTY REPUBLICAN ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

The bi-annual organizational meeting of the Pettis County Republican Committee will be held Tuesday, August 17, 2004, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Pettis County Courthouse, Sedalia, Missouri. It is important that all Committeemen and Committeewomen elected in the primary election and all other interested individuals be present to organize the Republican Party for the next two years. The agenda will include the election of officers and the planning of the November Election. All candidates for election in November will be recognized. The committee may fill vacancies in any township or precinct. The positions to be filled include Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. Carla Young, Pettis County Chairman, recently announced her intentions to seek re-election to the important position as Pettis County Chairman. For more information, please contact Carla Young Pettis County Republican Chair.

The Missouri State Fair is expected to be an exciting event for local Republicans. A high profile Republican representing the Bush-Cheney campaign is expected to make an appearance at the Missouri State Fair. Additionally, Carla Young is encouraging all local Republican Candidates to participate in the State Fair Parade on August 12, 2004. Participants will line up at 4:30 p.m. The parade will begin at 6:00 p.m. Additionally, Stanley Cox, Vice-Chairman, has asked for volunteers to work at the Missouri State Fair Republican booth on the fairgrounds on Pettis County Day, which is Sunday, August 22, 2004. If you are willing to volunteer, this is a great opportunity to meet Republicans from across the state. Please contact Stanley Cox.

TARGET (The Association of Republicans Getting Everyone Together) is sponsoring an Old Fashioned Campaign Rally and Kick-Off on Thursday, September 9, 2004, at the home of Larry and Rosalee Wilson, 27143 Prairie Road, Sedalia, Missouri, starting at 6:30 p.m To get to the Wilson farm, travel West on 16th Street from Sedalia, then South on Prairie Road. Tickets are $7.50 each ($5.00 Seniors) and Children 5 years of age or younger are free. A complimentary ticket for this event is provided free foreach 2004 TARGET membership or renewal (good through September 1, 2005). Rod Lindemann, TARGET President, recently reported the receipt of over $900.00 in connection with the "virtual" Strawberry Shortcake Fund Raiser. You may send your renewal to TARGET, 202 W 4th St, Sedalia. If you have any qusetions or need tickets, contact Rod Lindemann or Vice-President, Stanley Cox.

According to the internet website,realclearpolitics.com, the most current polls showed the presidential race as a virtual tie. In counting electoral votes, any successful formula for George W. Bush's election includes winning the 11 electoral votes in Missouri. Most observers in Missouri consider the race for the presidency to be very close. Certainly the history of state wide races in 2002 and 2004 indicate that the Presidential race will probably be within one or two percent and the Governors race will be similarly close. It has been said by many observers that we have a divided nation. Missouri is likewise divided.
This closeness of elections in our state, make your participation in our county-wide 72-hour Plan essential for victory. Over the last ten years, we have had four or five candidates who won or lost the election by one or two percent. The 72-hour Plan is old fashioned grass-roots politics. To make it successful, we need local volunteers. I urge you to contact myself or Pettis County Chair Carla Young if you are willing to participate. The effort will include voter identification and last minute door-to-door dissemination of get out the vote material on the Saturday and Monday before the election and on election day. Believe it or not, some people fail to get to the polls unless they are adequately reminded. We are committed to remind everyone.

The successful implementation of the 72-hour plan will have a beneficial effect on our local candidates, including our State Representative candidates, our Sheriff candidate, our candidate for Western Commissioner, Assessor, Public Administrator and Coroner. Above is a volunteer form which needs to be returned. You will receive a written thanks for your efforts in volunteering this election cycle. More importantly, you, your family and the entire country will have a brighter future if Republicans are successful this year.
Stanley Cox.