Five candidates are seeking the Republican nomination for two Missouri House seats from Newton and McDonald counties.

Both seats were left open this year by term limits on the incumbents, but only Republicans filed. That means the winners of the primary balloting on Tuesday, Aug. 3, will be virtually assured of election in November.

130th District

Two candidates are competing in the Republican primary in the 130th District. They are Bill Reiboldt, 16106 Kentucky Road, Neosho, and Lynn Otey, 1383 Hale McGinty Drive, Neosho.

The district takes in parts of Newton and McDonald counties.

Reiboldt, 61, owns a farm northeast of Neosho. He is a lifetime resident of the area. He is a businessman who has experience in dairy, beef and row crops. He has a degree in business administration from Harding University in Searcy, Ark. He has served in the Missouri Army National Guard. He is seeking election to his first elective office.

“The key issues are the economy, jobs, school funding, budget accountability, law enforcement and fire protection,” Reiboldt said. “I want to serve in state government because I have always enjoyed government, political science and history. The opportunity is here with Kevin Wilson being term-limited to do that.”

Reiboldt said he has had a successful career and now wants “an opportunity to serve our district and give back to the community.”

Otey, 55, is a lifetime resident of Neosho. She is a Realtor. She retired from teaching after 25 years. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Missouri Southern State University and a master’s degree in elementary education from Missouri State University. She was elected to the Neosho School Board in 2008.

“I thought it was fitting for me to run with my current experience and leadership skills, and community involvement,” Otey said. “I want to continue our conservative values in Jefferson City.

“As a former teacher, I want adequate funding for our public schools. I want to create jobs for Southwest Missouri. I think education and jobs go hand in hand. If you provide a good public education, after they graduate they can go on to college, a technical school or join the work force.”

Otey said she is concerned about the $500 million to $900 million deficit the state will face in the next session of the Legislature. She said she would hope to cut the budget without hurting major programs for education and the elderly.

131st District

Three candidates are competing in the Republican primary in the 131st District. They are Bill Lant, 5528 Gum Road, Joplin; Bill Buening, 102 S. Main St., Diamond; and David Q. Liveoak, 18383 Iris Road, Neosho.

The district takes in parts of McDonald and Newton counties.

Lant, 63, has lived in the district for 35 years. He has owned and operated a feed store for 12 years. He received an associate degree from Jasper County Junior College and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Pittsburg (Kan.) State University. He served four years on the Seneca Board of Education, including one year as president.

“The basic reason I am seeking the position is that I’ve got six grandchildren,” he said. “I feel that anything I can do to help make them a better life, it’s kind of my job to do it.

“The biggest thing facing the state of Missouri is the economic situation we are in. Because of the balanced-budget amendment, the Legislature has done a wonderful job of keeping us within the budget.

“But next year, they will need to cut $1 billion to $1.2 billion. We have to keep taxes down because if we don’t it will discourage small business, and that’s where all of the jobs will be coming from.”

Buening, 47, has lived in Diamond since 2000. He works for Mediacom Communications. He attended schools in Seneca and Miami, Okla. He is enrolled in Arapahoe Community College near Denver, Colo., where he is working on a degree in broadband communication technologies. He served in the Navy for six years. He served on the Diamond Board of Education, including one year as president.

“I want to make people’s lives easier by getting government out of their lives,” Buening said. “Our taxes are getting out of control. Big government just spends, spends and spends. I work for a living. People like me need to be represented by someone like me. The average guy is not being represented very well. They don’t see things from ground zero.

“The biggest issue is getting Missourians back to work. How do we get this economy back to work? When we do that, then everything else will fall into place. The second issue is the state budget. We are facing a $1 billion shortfall in revenue.”

He said the flow of money from Southwest Missouri into the casinos of Northeast Oklahoma is becoming a big problem.

Liveoak, 47, has lived in the area for five years. He is the head of maintenance at the Joplin Petro truck stop. After graduating from Stockton High School, he joined the military. The bid is his first for elected office.

“Health care is a big issue,” he said. “I don’t think the government ought to be in it. It’s out of hand. The government should not be running the insurance companies.

“Our state economy is in the tank. But there is a lot of waste that can be cut. You go through a construction area and there are 40 people there with vests on, but only five guys who are really working.”

Liveoak said welfare recipients should pick up trash along the highways or help in a nursing home or cleanup project to earn their support.

“There is no sense in people collecting welfare and unemployment for months on end, and they’re just sitting there watching TV,” he said. “They need to earn their welfare. The day of the free lunch needs to end. When you can make more doing nothing than holding an honest job, something is wrong.”





Poll hours



Missouri polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 3, for primary and special-election balloting.