With Rep. Kirk Mathews forgoing a re-election bid, the House seat covering portions of St. Louis and Franklin counties — including Eureka, Wildwood, and Pacific — is left open. Two Republicans and one Democrat are vying for the chance to represent the constituents in the Missouri House.
Matt Doell and Dottie Bailey are both Republican candidates that are preparing to go head-to-head for the Republican nomination to face off with Democrat Cody Kelley in the November general election.
Kelley is running on platform of education, labor, and public safety. He currently works for Meramec Valley R-3 School District and coaches baseball for Pacific High School — the same school he graduated from less than a decade ago.
Both of the Republican candidates are similar on several stances: both are pro-life and strong supporters of the second amendment.
Mathews’ pick
Going into to the primary election Bailey has an impressive list of those endorsing her candidacy including Mathews and former Speaker of the House Tim Jones. She’s also received support from the Professional Fire Fighters of Eastern Missouri local union and the Mortgage Bankers Association of Missouri.
With just a few weeks left before the primary, Bailey is continuing to knock on doors and meeting voters. She calls the campaign a “very humbling experience” and an opportunity “unlike any other.”
“The campaign season has taught me so much, it teaches you to be very selfless and keep going because many people need a voice and I am that voice for them. Talking with them gave me great strength and energy,” she said.
She hit the streets in April to connect with the constituents and discover their concerns and lean the issues that affect them every day. Bailey noticed three themes being brought up over and over: lowering the tax burden, supporting the Second Amendment, and protecting the life of an unborn child.
“As a long-time conservative myself, I share these 3 main themes and are issues as a volunteer, conservative leader and activist where I have been on many battlefronts,” said Bailey.
“The people of District 110 have been amazing. Knocking on doors of my constituents has been a joy. They are the real deal and they care about our community and were happy to share their concern and issues. So many invited me inside and treated me like family, I really have been blessed by such great people.”
A ‘proven track record’
Matt Doell said he has approached his campaign for the Missouri House the same way he does everything else – positively, and with a focus on listening to people, standing up for fiscal responsibility, and promoting a bright and prosperous future for Missouri.
“I’ve met great people throughout the district who believe strongly in Missouri’s future, as I do. It is encouraging to know that there are so many people out there like me who just want an honest, thoughtful representative who will have their best interests at heart,” said Doell.
“People across the district have said repeatedly that lawmakers need to use some common sense and work on issues that are really beneficial to our state. Constituents want someone who will stop playing political games and get down to work, and that is exactly what I will do.”
A licensed professional engineer, Doell has a background in telecommunication and data handling systems, team leadership, and business management. He has been a member of the Rockwood School District Board of education since 2011.
He believes that his top priorities — which include jobs, great schools, and infrastructure — align with constituents’ concerns while also aligning with his experience and accomplishments.
“I have a proven track record of sound financial responsibility,” said Doell. “I will bring that to the Missouri House and work to get the most out of every dollar we spend.”
A few fun questions:
| Candidate | Go-to fast food | Go-to music |
|---|---|---|
| Dottie Bailey | I eat anything and everything especially during the campaign season with burning so many calories knocking doors. | Anything with an upbeat tempo to keep up with my fast energy. |
| Matt Doell | Jack in the Box tacos. Really not health food, so can’t indulge very often, but they are great! | I like the music my sons would call “old stuff”: Queen, Billy Joel, Beatles... I guess I became an ‘’old guy” somewhere along the line! |
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.
