Preparation vs. experience?

When questions were asked and answered last Thursday in a three-way debate between Republican candidates for Howell County's seat in the Missouri House of Representatives, it was evident to those in attendance there are differences among the trio of candidates on next Tuesday's ballot.

 

Mark Collins, Larry Lindeman, and Lisa Durnell are all seeking the Republican nomination for Missouri’s House of Representative's District 154 seat. Incumbent State Rep. David Evans, a Republican from West Plains, unexpectedly announced in March his intention to retire at the end of the current term.

 

In the interim, a highly contested race developed.

 

The winner of the Republican primary on next Tuesday will square off against Democrat JoJo Stewart in November.

 

More than 250 people turned out to listen to these candidates, and the candidates for Senate District 33, debate at the Expo Hall of the West Plains Civic Center. The event was hosted and moderated by Howell County News. 

 

In their opening statements, the candidates staked out their priorities for the crowd.

 

Lindeman continued a theme he has mentioned throughout the campaign.

 

"Anyone with a Y chromosome should not be allowed to participate in women's sports," he said. Lindeman also used this time to mention and display a letter of endorsement from, "the principal of West Plains R-VII schools." Howell County News later learned he was referring to West Plains Elementary Principal Becky Hutchison. 

"I've been in public service for 26 years," Collins said in his opener. "Everybody probably knows my background, my qualifications…I have the knowledge and experience. I believe I can hit those halls running."

 

Durnell jumped right into her platform, championing, "protecting our Constitutional rights, our Second Amendment rights ... property rights, advocating for farmers. I've been exclusively and unanimously endorsed by the Missouri Cattlemen's Association. I have maintained self-control, and I believe I have the temperament for this job."

 

Lindeman and Collins stumbled over some of the policy-specific questions, which had been provided in advance to all candidates.

 

Lindeman offered no response to a question about initiative-petition reform.

 

Collins said he needed more research on questions regarding school choice for the disabled and on stymied legislation that would remove restrictions on the sale of raw dairy.

 

On initiative-petition reform, Collins said, "There are some issues that should take more than a simple majority to get an issue on the ballot in Missouri. I think it does need to be tougher to get things on the ballot."

 

"I could talk about this all day," Durnell said. "I followed that legislation and was very disappointed that once again it did not pass. You get liberal issues, and [metropolitan] areas are gonna tell us in Howell County what's gonna be changed in our [state] Constitution."

 

On the school-choice question, Collins said, "School choice already exists in Howell County," referring to students' ability to choose their high school. "I just don't know all the bolts and nuts or all the bills."

 

On school choice for the disabled, Collins said, "It's hard to say. Not that many schools can accommodate the handicapped. They are hard to come by. Not every school could handle the severely handicapped."

 

"Clearly my opponent does not understand school choice," Durnell rebutted. "Senate Bill 727 is the bill that I followed from beginning to end. In a perfect world, those children should get school choice as well, but the reality is that every single public school would have to be equipped for that kind of an educational environment. It's hundreds of thousands of dollars that they would have to invest."

 

Lindeman, an educator, said, "I'm all in favor of school choice. It would cost tons of money to provide all the necessary items [to provide school choice for the severely disabled]. One way they can receive an education is through the severely handicapped schools."

 

Collins had the first answer to the question about specific dairy industry bills that stalled in committee. "I'd have to study the situation more and try to help them to move the bill forward," he said.

 

Durnell responded, "This was one of the questions we knew might be coming, and nothing in it concerns me. I'm all for advancing this bill. As long as it's a labeled product, which this bill calls for, consumers should have the opportunity to buy it.”

 

Lindeman responded, "A farmer has an option to be in business for themselves…If it's properly labeled, more power to the individual who is seeking to make a living by selling that particular product."

 

The only candidate with a history in public office, Collins received several questions from the audience on his time on the Howell County Commission and about his campaign materials.

 

Referring to recent Collins campaign mailers paid for by a Jefferson City PAC, one question was met with an audible wave of laughter from the crowd.

 

"How do you plan to drain the swamp when the swamp is paying for your advertising?"

 

"I don't know what the swamp is," Collins said. "I'm flattered that someone thinks I am the best person for this job…I never was part of the swamp. I think everyone needs to stand up and be accounted for."

Opponent Durnell named the PAC and its treasurer — the Missouri Priorities PAC and Mark Ellinger, who was the presiding commissioner in Cole County.

 

"[Collins] has said repeatedly that he has worked with commissioners across the state in Jefferson City. Jeff City is Cole County. Does anybody see the connection?" she said.

 

When pitched a question about his 25-plus years in public office, Collins responded, "I accomplished many things. I'm not here to brag on myself. We bought the Bank of America building for $975,000, and they leased it back for $100,000 a year and that basically paid for that building. We expanded the road-and-bridge budget. We passed some bills to help keep car purchases here in Missouri to keep people from going across state lines."

 

Responding to a different question, he seemed to take credit for Missouri's abolishment of income tax on senior citizens' Social Security income.

 

"When I became Social Security age, Missouri was still one of 12 states that collected income tax on Social Security income. I mentioned it to [State Representative] David Evans…. It passed in the next session. I'm very proud of being able to get that done," Collins said.

 

Lindeman faced questions critiquing his priority to submit what he called "questionable" student athletes to a blood test to ensure they are competing on the team that matches their biological gender. He was also asked to answer why he failed to complete the survey from the Missouri Gun Coalition. Lindeman responded that candidates are "inundated" with survey requests.

 

Durnell received criticism in Collins' closing statement for her pert and prepared responses.

 

"I'm speaking from my heart and my mind, not from a script. I care about the people of this district. I will hit the halls running for you people up there. I have the knowledge and the experience to represent you the best," Collins said.

 

In her closing statement, Durnell responded, "Do you want someone who is establishment and will cozy up to the lobbyists, or a true conservative who will fight?" 

 

In closing, Lindeman said, "We're all three conservative, and of the three, I am the most outspoken." He mentioned mentioning COVID-19 vaccines, mask mandates, methane emissions from cattle and global warming. "I refuse to have people hoodwinked by phony science."

 

An exit poll with 102 responses showed 80 attendees who plan to vote for Durnell, 11 who are voting for Lindeman, eight who are voting for Collins, and three who remain undecided.