With less than one month before the primary election, the two Republican candidates running to replace term-limited Sen. Robert Schaaf are working to set themselves apart from one another.
In digital ads, Tony Luetkemeyer is casting himself as a conservative outsider and Harry Roberts is emphasizing his record as Presiding Commissioner of Buchanan County.
Both are vying to represent SD 34, which encompasses Platte and Buchanan counties, and the primary election is turning out to one of the hottest August elections.
“Somebody once said, ‘If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.’ I think the same can be said for Jefferson City,” Luetkemeyer states in a 30-second digital ad.
The ad — titled “Truman,” the name of Tony’s dog who is named for the University of Missouri mascot — focuses on Luetkemeyer’s lack of political experience, being him as the conservative outsider. The attorney who graduated from MU is “not a politician,” has never run for office, and doesn’t expect to make many friends in Jefferson City.
“Too many politicians in Jefferson City have sold out those they represent by putting their own interests over the interests of hard-working Missourians,” Luetkemeyer said in a statement.
He said he plans to to fight for lower taxes, safer streets, less government, and higher quality jobs.
“On August 7, vote for someone who actually does the right things and not someone who simply says the right things,” Roberts said during a 30-second digital ad.
Titled “We Did,” the advertisement focuses on Roberts record as Presiding Commissioner of Buchanan County. It touts Roberts keeping his promises, saving taxpayers $100,000, and working to rebuild levees.
Roberts also said he plans to fight illegal immigration and cut wasteful spending but that saying isn’t the same as doing.
“Any candidate can say the right things,” Roberts states. “That’s why I’m running on my record.”
Alisha Shurr was a reporter for The Missouri Times and The Missouri Times Magazine. She joined The Missouri Times in January 2018 after working as a copy editor for her hometown newspaper in Southern Oregon. Alisha is a graduate of Kansas State University.
