JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Gov. Eric Greitens called for special elections in House District 97, 129, and 144 to take place February 6, 2018. The elections will fill the vacancies of Rep. John McCaherty – who resigned to run for Jefferson County Executive, Rep. Sandy Crawford – who replaced Lt. Governor Mike Parson as SD 28 Senator, and Rep. Paul Fitzwater – who resigned to serve on the Board of Probation and Parole.
UPDATE: Writ of Elections received for Missouri HD97, HD129 & HD144 special elections. Election Day will be Feb 6, 2018. #moleg pic.twitter.com/EHQAQo46bX
— Missouri SOS Office (@MissouriSOS) October 3, 2017
During his time in the House, McCaherty served as chair of the Small Business Committee and is a military veteran. He was elected to the House in 2010 and would have faced term limits in 2018.
“I’ll bring the same bipartisan conservative leadership to Jefferson County that I’ve fought for in Jefferson City,” McCaherty told the Missouri Times in July. “The common sense people of Jefferson County deserve common sense leaders in our county government. As county executive, I will fight for our jobs and our communities.”
In the race for Parson’s seat, Crawford won handily- with nearly 70 percent of the vote against Democratic candidate Albert Skalicky. Crawford was elected to the house in 2010 and would have faced term limits in 2018 as well.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as the 28th District’s voice in the State Senate, and I look forward to fighting for our region’s rights and values when the session begins next year, she told the Missouri Times in August. “Moving forward with common-sense, conservative legislation to lower the tax burden on families and small businesses, reduce the size of government, and protect Missouri values will be my top priority.”
Fitzwater was elected to the house in 2010 and would have faced term limits before he resigned to join the Board of Probation and Parole. During his time in the House, he served on the House Conservation and National Resources Committee, the Joint Committee on the Justice System, and as Chairman of the Corrections Committee, which is in charge of both juvenile and adult correctional issues.
“We are excited to have Paul join the Board of Probation and Parole, and for the experience he brings as Chairman of the Corrections and Public Institution Committee,” Greitens said in a statement in late September. “While he will be missed in the legislature, I know he will serve our state with great integrity.”
Michael Layer is a reporter for the Missouri Times and the Missouri Times Magazine. He joined the Missouri Times in August 2017 after graduating from Goucher College the previous May. To contact Michael, email michael@themissouritimes.com or follow him on Twitter @_MichaelLayer
