Local GOP reps, big-name donors line up to back Sonya Anderson’s county commission bid

State Rep. Sonya Anderson won't lack for support from her colleagues and local GOP luminaries in her bid to replace Harold Bengsch on the Greene County Commission next year.

An invitation to an Anderson fundraiser at Sac River Stables on Oct. 29 lists six of the other eight Republican lawmakers currently representing Greene County in Jefferson City as guests, including the powerful House Speaker Elijah Haahr, as well as Reps. Lynn Morris and Jered Taylor of Christian County.

Rep. Jeff Messenger of Republic and Sen. Lincoln Hough of Springfield are the only ones missing.

Hough, who served on the commission with Bengsch from 2017 to 2018, said in a text message he wasn’t getting involved in the race.

“I haven’t had a chance to visit with Harold yet, so I’m staying out of it,” Hough said.

Messenger did not respond to a request for comment for this story.

House speaker expresses confidence in Anderson

Anderson, who is currently serving her final term representing northern Greene County in the Missouri House, announced her bid for Bengsch's seat in July.

It is not yet clear whether Bengsch, a former city-county public health director and fellow Republican, will seek a fifth term on the commission next year.

“I haven’t made that decision yet,” he told the News-Leader in an interview Monday.

It didn't matter to Haahr. In an interview Tuesday, he said he wasn't sure who the other candidates might be, but was confident Anderson would be a good pick.

"She's the highest-ranking woman in the House, she's incredibly impressive and she's done a great job representing Springfield and Greene County interests in Jefferson City, so I think she'll be a great commissioner," Haahr said.

What big-name donors are expected to attend?

The Sac River Stables event, headlined by former Missouri first lady Janet Ashcroft, will also feature a number of Springfield business owners with histories of opening their wallets for local and statewide Republican candidates.

Ed and Carole Pinegar of Pinegar Chevrolet renown will be there, for instance.

According to state records, the couple has contributed roughly $60,000 to state and local campaigns in the past five years, including those of candidates like Anderson, Hough and Mayor Ken McClure as well as Gov. Mike Parson and Secretary of State John Ashcroft.

Forrest and Charlotte Lucas, who own California-based Lucas Oil and a speedway and cattle operation in Hickory County, are also listed on the invitation.

The Lucases and their companies have contributed nearly $140,000 to state and local politicians in the past five years, much of which went to support Parson, a Hickory County native, in his 2016 bid for lieutenant governor.

Anderson, for her part, received $500 from Lucas Oil Products in 2016.

Businessmen Gordon Kinne, the owner of Battlefield employee benefits company Med-Pay Inc., and Jack Gentry, CEO of Springfield manufacturer Positronic, are also listed, as are active local party members like Mavis Busiek, the executive director of the 7th Congressional District Republican Committee, and Darrell Proctor, whose wife Danette is the chair of the Greene County Republican Party.

The invitation seeks donations on five levels, ranging from "platinum" at $2,000 to "attendee" at $50.

In a news release announcing her run, Anderson highlighted her experience as a business owner — she co-owns Show Me Horses and Farrier Service with her husband, Jim — and support for local property owners dealing with hazardous waste and government overreach.

She also touted her support for limiting abortion rights as a vocal supporter of a new law banning abortions at eight weeks of pregnancy that includes a provision she wrote requiring that women receive state-produced pamphlets warning of the risks of abortion when they get an out-of-state referral.

The eight-week ban was blocked from taking effect by a federal judge in August; the state is appealing the decision.