Soto, Wolfin Both Running
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So far, two fellow Republicans have entered the race to replace District 145 State Representative Rick Francis.
Francis is term-limited and cannot seek another term in the 2024 election.
Ste. Genevieve resident Bryant Wolfin announced his candidacy earlier this year. Last week, Dave Soto, a Perryville real estate broker, also threw his hat in the ring.
The vast majority of Ste. Genevieve County was Iin District 116, represented by Dale Wright since 2019, until state redistricting moved it into Francis’ District 145 this year.
A tiny bit of northern Ste. Genevieve County, around Kinsey, has been in District 115, where Cyndi Buchheit-Cortway replaced current State Senator Elaine Gannon in 2021.
Wolfin, a former Ste. Genevieve alderman and county business owner, challenged Wright for the Republican nomination in District 116 in 2020. Wright won he nomination, on the way to his second term, with 3,779 votes (58.6%) to 2,670 (41.4%) for Wolfin. Wolfin, however, took Ste. Genevieve County, with 1,089 votes (52.6%) to 981 (47.4%) for Wright.
Both Wolfin and Soto are limited government supporters.
“I firmly believe in the principles of limited government, personal responsibility, and individual freedom,” Soto said. “These values shape my decisions and drive me to protect the rights and liberties of every citizen. As State Representative, I will tirelessly champion these conservative ideals to ensure a prosperous future for our community and state,”
Wolfin has similar views.
“Every day our freedoms are under attack,” Wolfin said. “The problem is plainly obvious. Our government is too big, and too entrenched in our daily lives. Conservatives have to fight back, we need legislation that rolls back the role of our government, not expands it.”
Wolfin gained a reputation during his time as an alderman as a fiscal conservative.
“Unlike career politicians, I have signed both sides of a paycheck,” he said. “Our legislature just passed the largest budget in state history, all while countless families are battling inflation and struggling to make ends meat. We must cut the fat out of the state budget and lessen the tax burden so our working families and small businesses can keep their hard-earned money. I have helped make spending cuts at the city level, and I will do everything in my power to get cuts done at the state level.”
Soto focuses on fostering economic growth.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our community, driving economic growth and providing vital opportunities. I am committed to advocating for their interests and creating an environment where entrepreneurship can thrive,” Soto said. “The state budget is a critical aspect of our governance, and I am determined to find innovative ways to bring more dollars into Southeast Missouri for essential infrastructure improvements and community projects. By securing necessary resources, we can enhance the quality of life and support the growth of our region.”
Both candidates are strong Second Amendment supporters.
The filing period does not begin until February 2024 for the August 2024 primary.
Francis was first elected to the post in 2016. He is in his fourth term, the maximum allowed by Missouri’s term limits statute.
Current term limits language as amended November 5, 2002, reads, “No one shall be elected to serve more than eight years total in any one house of the General Assembly nor more than sixteen years total in both houses of the General Assembly.”