Politician Travis Smith is a nice guy, but is he ready for the Senate?
Tue, 02/06/2024 - 4:30pm
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I read the article "Two Running for State Senate Seat" with great interest, particularly after recently reading in the Branson Tri Lakes Newspaper that Rep. Travis Smith had decided not to run for state senate. That article stated, "Smith said he spoke with Rep. Brad Hudson... and Hudson said he supported the same things Smith believes..."
Smith went on to say of Hudson, "... Together I know we could do great things for my district..." However, in the Howell County News article from January 30, 2024, it would seem Smith has apparently changed his mind just weeks later and is now running for our local senate seat.
What I find most unique is the rapid change from support of Rep. Hudson as well as how Rep. Smith was surprised how many people "need him to do this." With his stated reason for running being "the divisiveness in the Senate chamber and Republican Party," I find it odd that Rep. Smith would begin a race against Rep. Hudson after publicly supporting him and his beliefs.
Also in the Howell County News, Rep. Smith claims several endorsements while Rep. Hudson reports endorsements are in the works. At this point in the race, many factors can change and former endorsements don't always carry race to race for candidates. I have not seen any public endorsements for either candidate to date, so I'm unsure how Rep. Smith can claim these endorsements for this race. Add to that the fact that the Farm Bureau doesn't get involved with state representative races, so that can't possibly be a previous endorsement either.
If Rep Smith is willing to change his public plan of action and make assumptive statements of endorsements this early in the election process, how many individual support groups will he allow to flip or flop his views before the election? Perhaps he should stay in the House at this time, rather than running for Senate. Our region and the State of Missouri deserve consistency and continuity from the Senate.
Brandon Gregory, Willow Springs