It appears there will be a strong slate of candidates running in the Republican primary for Moniteau County Sheriff.
Three people announced their candidacy for the office Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Lincoln Day Dinner.
On the Republican ticket, incumbent Sheriff Jeptha Gump will be a candidate along with Dale Embry and Tony Wheatley.
Gump is in his second term as Moniteau County Sheriff. Embry, California Police Department sergeant, has served in law enforcement for 20 years He started his law enforcement career in Boonville. Wheatley served with the Stover Police Department, Morgan County Sheriff's Department, Kansas City Police Department and the Mid-Missouri Drug Task Force. He recently returned from four years in Afghanistan where he trained law enforcement personnel.
The Republican of the Year was named as Shayne Healea. He was elected to the office of Prosecuting Attorney in 2010. Expressing his surprise at the honor, Healea first thanked everyone, then said, "I'll be here as long as they want me here."
The main speaker, introduced by master of ceremonies Kenny Jones, was Brad Lager, Savannah, a candidate for Lieutenant Governor on the Republican ticket. He said the people of the state need to resist the constant encroachment of government into the private sector, through litigation and regulation. He said among other major problems, judicial decisions have rewritten employment laws in the last five years. "The goverment is creating roadblocks," he said, "not facilitating growth."
One of the problems he sees is the replacement of "public servants" with "professional politicians." He said the country was better off when the government built by the Founding Fathers was operating, where it was set up for the officeholders to serve a short time and go back to their private lives. Although some people with abilities are lost by term limits, there are plenty of able people who can fill those offices.
Lager said he would only serve two terms if elected as Lt. Governor.
Dave Spence, candidate for Governor, also spoke briefly. Spence, who recently stepped down as CEO of a St. Louis based company, said "Missouri is really a business though many don't look at it that way."
Several other candidates were present but had to leave early to make other appointments. Speakers included representatives of Fourth District Congresswoman Vickie Hartzler, Sen. Bill Stouffer (candidate for Secretary of State) and Bill Randles (candidate for Lt. Governor). Harvey Tettlebaum spoke on behalf of Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, emphasizing his work in making the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics a profitable venture. Tettlebaum's son worked for Romney during the Olympics.
Missouri State Rep. Caleb Jones, president of the Moniteau County Republican Club, also spoke briefly.
The winner of the coveted rotating door prize of the George and Barbara Bush house shoes was Angel Embry.
John Derendinger held the live auction fund raiser. The family of Jesse Rohrbach provided musical entertainment.
For more photos of this event check out the Feb. 8 issue of the California Democrat.