Kenny Hulshof’s plans to put more teeth into CAFO laws if he is elected, his long-range energy plan, his thoughts on higher-education funding and his grip on Missouri’s problems make him the best choice in the Aug. 5 Republican primary.

Hulshof, a U.S. congressman representing Missouri, and Sarah Steelman, Missouri state treasurer, are the leading contenders in the primary.

On the Democratic ballot, Jay Nixon is the clear front-runner.

Hulshof, of Columbia, and Steelman, of Rolla, both came on the scene relatively late in the game following Matt Blunt’s unexpected announcement on Jan. 22 that he would not seek a second term.

Hulshof and Steelman, in separate interviews last week, spoke to members of the Globe’s editorial board and youth editorial board. Our two groups came away with the same conclusion — Hulshof has the better connection with Southwest Missourians.

“Hulshof makes a better impression,” said one member of the youth editorial board. “Much of what he said made an impression on me, where Steelman didn’t. Steelman had the same list of answers for most of the questions.”

The teen’s comments succinctly summed up our thoughts as a group.

*On concentrated animal feeding operations, Hulshof departs from Gov. Blunt’s philosophy. Blunt once told the editorial board that he believed CAFOs should operate under state guidelines. Hulshof said he is a local-control guy and felt that county commissions, even those in counties without planning and zoning, need to be able to impose local controls in the permitting process of factory farms. Steelman seemed caught offguard by the question, but said she would be in favor of a plan fair to both sides.

*Steelman, when asked what she would do about increasing money for higher ed, mentioned making it easier for parents to save money. That makes us wonder about her commitment to state funding of higher ed. Meanwhile, Hulshof said that the state should be obligated to increase funding, because the state imposed tuition caps on universities.

*Hulshof and Steelman are on opposite sides of the ethanol debate. Hulshof believes that using corn for fuel is just the tip of the iceberg for the future. Steelman believes that lifting the 10 percent ethanol mandate would help relieve food prices and prices of feed being paid by livestock farmers.

Neither candidate had a plan for restoring at least some of the cuts to Medicaid made under Blunt’s administration. We think that’s a key issue, particularly for Missouri’s working poor, and that it will likely play a large role in the campaign for the general election.

But in this race, we believe Hulshof is the choice.