By Wally Kennedy
wkennedy@joplinglobe.com
Three Republican incumbents in Southwest Missouri who faced Democratic challengers held onto their seats in the Missouri House of Representatives during voting Tuesday.
In six other House districts, Republicans had free rides in the general vote and were virtually assured of election.
132nd District
In District 132 in Lawrence County, Don Ruzicka held onto his post by defeating Democrat Charles Dake, a veterinarian. The vote was 8,738 for Ruzicka and 6,931 for Dake.
This is the second time that Ruzicka, 51, has defeated Dake.
Ruzicka has lived in Mount Vernon for nine years. He has a bachelor of science degree in wildlife management from Missouri State University at Springfield. He was a Missouri Department of Conservation agent for 27 years.
125th District
Barney Fisher, 60, of rural Vernon County, the Republican incumbent who was first elected to represent the district in 2004, defeated Democratic challenger Carla Keough, of Butler, who was seeking election to her first public office.
The vote was 9,427 for Fisher and 6,122 for Keough.
Fisher, who was born and raised in Nevada, served 21 years as a fighter pilot in the Marine Corps, retiring and returning to the Nevada area in 1993. He is a graduate of Nevada High School. He received a bachelor of science degree in education in 1969 from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
The district takes in the western two-thirds of Bates County and all of Vernon County.
126th District
Ed Emery, 58, of Lamar, the Republican incumbent who was first elected to the House in 2002, defeated Democratic challenger Linda Marie Crane, of Greenfield, who was seeking her first public office.
The vote was 11,419 for Emery and 5,654 for Crane.
Emery has lived in Lamar since 1994. He received a degree in petroleum engineering in 1972 from the University of Missouri-Rolla. He was a petroleum engineer for 23 years. This will be his final term.
The district takes in Barton County, and parts of Jasper, Dade and Polk counties.
