Now There's 6 In 62nd

A sixth candidate has entered the Republican field to replace Rep. Dennis Wood in the 62nd District House seat.

Kimberling City Mayor Jason Hulliung has told 62nd GOP Chair Layne Morrill that he'll compete for the committee's vote to carry the Republican banner next year.

While the special election to replace Wood is set for February, the real decision will be made Saturday, when about 20 GOP committee members from the 62nd legislative district will meet to select its candidate. No Democrat has ever been elected to the state House in Stone County.

Morrill said Thursday that he's decided there will be no "weighted votes," as previously discussed. Each committeeman and woman will get one vote to cast. He expects there to be around 20 votes, depending on attendance for Saturday's meeting. Overall, Stone County will make up about 16 votes; Taney County will have 4 votes.

Morrill also said the meeting's location has been changed to the Kimberling City Community Center on Kimberling Boulevard. It will still begin at 1 p.m. and is open to the public.

The other five known potential GOP candidates are former Taney County Commissioner Ron Herschend, 62nd District vice chair Nita Jane Ayres, businessman Jeff Justus, former Reeds Spring school board member Jeff Sims and Stone County GOP chair Tom Martin.