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John Black announces campaign to replace term-limited Rep. Fraker

John Black of Webster County has announced his candidacy for Missouri House of Representatives District 137, comprised of Greene and Webster counties, as a Republican. He is seeking to replace Representative Lyndall Fraker of Marshfield, who is term-limited.

“I have retired and am ready to work hard for the interests of the people of Greene and Webster Counties,” states Black. “I would hope to continue the past 20 plus years of public service by succeeding Representative Fraker in this important post. My service with City Utilities, and prior to that Missouri State University, has brought home the importance of investing the time, effort, and abilities one needs to address the issues facing our state.”

Black, a sixth generation Southwest Missourian and 1970 Strafford High School graduate, served as General Counsel for City Utilities Springfield Missouri from 2007 until he retired on February 2, 2018. Prior to that, he worked as a chemical engineer and was later the first in-house General Counsel for Southwest Missouri State University, which became Missouri State University during his service there. Black holds degrees in Chemical Engineering and in Management from the University of Missouri at Rolla (now Missouri University of Science and Technology) and a law degree from the University of Missouri at Columbia.

Black cites his years of experience and conservative values as to why he would well serve the citizens of district, “I am pro-life; I am pro-10th Amendment; I am pro-2nd Amendment—I have been an avid hunter with good friends for over thirty years—and I am a fiscal conservative; I place my qualifications before the voters and ask for their support. Experience has taught that economic development, effective public education, infrastructure support, and avoiding job- strangling regulation are problems with which our state must deal. Meanwhile, we must also prioritize creating an economic environment for family income, supporting law enforcement and dealing with our tragic drug problems. These are challenges that we must face head-on, and that I intend to address as the people’s representative.”

Black lives in Marshfield, and is married to Marshfield attorney Cynthia Black. He is active in the Marshfield United Methodist Church. Black is a former member of the Marshfield School Board as well as the Springfield Area Chamber Of Commerce.

Black is supported in his bid by Representative Fraker, who has successfully served as legislator for four terms: “I have known John Black for 25 years. He is a southwest Missourian who works hard and has achieved great things. His experience with both CU and MSU, including his experience with the legislature, is important training for the issues we face in Jefferson City. However, more important to me is his character. Anyone who knows John Black knows what I’m talking about—he will do his best to serve his neighbors and his community. Melanie and I are proud to support him in this effort.”

Black has retained Axiom Strategies to serve as consultants on his campaign.