ST. LOUIS – Today, Paul Berry III announced several current and former state senators have given their endorsement to his Republican congressional exploratory committee efforts, seeking to challenge Democrat Lacy Clay for Missouri’s 1st Congressional District.
The current list of supporters includes Senator Eric Schmitt of St. Louis County, Senator Bob Onder of St. Charles County, Senator Bob Dixon of Greene County, Senator Doug Libla of Butler County, and former Senator Jim Lembke of St. Louis County.
“Paul is a constitutional conservative who has proven himself adept at articulating and building support for Republican ideals in an area of the state where our party has been unable to compete before, and I am proud to support his exploratory effort,” said Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt.
State Representative Paul Curtman of Franklin County has endorsed Paul Berry III, and will serve as Berry’s liaison to Missouri House members on behalf of Paul Berry III Congressional Exploratory Committee. Curtman said, “Paul is a good friend and a dedicated Republican, his exploratory committee has my full support. Paul enjoys an immense amount of support from fellow members of the Missouri House, both throughout the St. Louis County region and statewide. Whatever Paul’s decision is during this election cycle, I know that he will remain a real asset to our party due to his proven ability to reach out to grassroots contacts, and he will drive Republican and Independent voter turnout in the traditionally-Democrat First Congressional District.”
“I am honored that my exploratory effort has the support of such a broad range of current and former lawmakers. Like myself, they know that the people of Missouri are tired of the failed liberal agenda of the St. Louis Democratic political machine, and we need GOP conservative solutions to solve the problems continually plaguing the urban regions of Missouri,” said Paul Berry III.
Berry continued, “As the world saw unfold over the last 16 months, Congressman Lacy Clay and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon’s “phone-in” style of leadership in Ferguson and throughout Missouri Congressional District One, in combination with Congressman Clay’s blanket support for the failed social agenda promoted by Hillary Clinton, establishes a recipe for disaster for the most vulnerable citizens and families of the City of St. Louis and North St. Louis County.”
“Congressman Clay has lost the confidence of the St. Louis community to provide independent, effective and competent leadership on behalf of the people of the St. Louis region. Congressman Clay’s career in Washington D.C. has become the poster child to supporters of elected official term limits. This election cycle, Congressman Clay will not be saved by simply being the incumbent in a gerrymandered congressional district, selling out on what is really best for the people of St. Louis, or by maintaining any crony Washington D.C. congressional relationships,” concludes Berry.
