Voters in the 28th Senatorial District will be choosing between two candidates to fill the former seat of Lt. Gov. Mike Parson in the Aug. 8 special election.
On the ballot will be Sandy Crawford, a Republican from Buffalo who’s serving in her final term as representative for the 129th House District, and Al Skalicky, a Democrat from Bolivar who’s new to politics. Each candidate was selected by their respective parties in February. Voters will select their new senator, who will serve for the remainder of Parson’s term, set to expire in 2018.
The 28th District includes portions of Benton, Cedar, Dallas, Hickory, Laclede, Pettis, Polk and St. Clair counties, which have been unrepresented in the Senate since Parson’s inauguration.
Crawford spent 30 years in the banking field in her hometown of Buffalo. She and her husband, John, who is retired from the electric industry, have a cow calf operation where John now farms.
She was active in local politics when she was encouraged by Buffalo citizens to run for the House of Representatives in 2010. She served as majority whip for two years during her second term, later serving as the banking chairman for two years. During this term she is chairman of financial institutions.
“I think it’s really important that someone has experience to go into this open seat especially since this election is just to complete former Sen., now Lt. Gov. Parson’s seat, which ends at the end of next year,” Crawford said. “We’re basically talking about one session and I know from experience serving in Jefferson City there is a learning curve. You have to learn the procedures, how to file a bill, how to pass a bill. So I think it’s important we have someone who can hit the ground running.
“It’s also important in the Senate that you have a working relationship built with your colleagues and I have served in the House with over one-third of the current senators and many others I’ve handled legislation with,” she added.
Crawford listed several endorsements, including the Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Chamber of Commerce PAC, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, Missouri Dairy Association and Missouri Right to Life.
She has also been endorsed by Parson in this campaign. Crawford has joined Parson and his wife Teresa at many events in Sedalia over the last several months, with Teresa saying a few words about their endorsement during Crawford’s appearance at a recent Pettis County Pachyderm Club meeting.
“He has introduced me or opened the door for me to meet people,” Crawford said of Parson “… He’s been really helpful to help me establish relationships.”
Crawford said her platform has included the same four things since she first ran for office in 2010, including being pro-life:
• Pro-business — “Not that the government creates jobs, but we need to have an environment that draws businesses into Missouri. We’ve done some legislation this last year I believe will help that — Right to Work and we’ve done some tort reform bills. … We’re centrally located in the United States … we have a lot going for us and I think just making Missouri as attractive as we can, that’s a big deal for me.”
• Pro-agriculture — “I worked a lot on Right to Farm, I promoted it when it was on the ballot. Agriculture is our No. 1 industry so I always work to promote agriculture.”
• Pro-second amendment — “Any time a second amendment bill comes up whether it’s good or bad, that’s when I hear from the folks in my district, that’s when they get fired up. I’ve had an A rating with the NRA in the past.”
Crawford said she hopes to use her finance background on the Appropriations Committee if elected.
“I’m very proud of the fact Missouri is one of a few states with a AAA bond rating and we do have to balance our budget. Even though cuts are painful, we have to live within our means,” she said. “… We did pass a budget with the foundation formula fully funded for the first time in many years and I think that’s a step in the right direction for education.”
Crawford said citizens should vote for her because of her experience in Jefferson City.
“I have not changed my platforms that I’ve run on since day one, I still key in on those same platforms; I don’t change,” she continued. “I’m trustworthy, I have a voting record established. Anyone can say anything about why they’re the best candidate, but I have an established voting record that proves where I’m at.”
