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Delbert Scott Elected as new Republican Floor Leader

JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri House Republicans picked as their leader a white male abortion opponent over the only black House Republican, a woman and a lawmaker who had voted against abortion restrictions.

Former Caucus Chairman Delbert Scott, a Lowry City Republican, was elected the new minority floor leader to replace Rep. Mark Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff. Richardson resigned his leadership slot after his arrest for drunken driving and child endangerment.

"The caucus is sticking with a senior member of the party that has proven his leadership," said one of the losing candidates, Rep. Charles Shields, R-St. Joseph.

Shields was one of a few House Republicans who have voted against anti-abortion legislation. But Shields said that was not an issue in the campaign.

"That did not play into it," he said. "It was not an issue for me. The caucus made the logical decision to move Delbert into that position."

But one of the few Republican abortion-rights supporters said the large anti-abortion majority in the Republican caucus assured election of an anti-abortion leader.

"Looking at the caucus it was going to be a pro-life person," said Rep. Cindy Ostmann, R-St. Peters. "I was a supporter of Carson Ross (the only black GOP House member). He's outside of the leadership group and he could have given us a new outlook. But, we have to get off this issue and get on to the day to day issues of the state. If we're going to be a majority party, we've got to start working together."

As Scott steps into the role of the most powerful Republican in the House, other party members will grapple for the Republican Caucus Chairman position.

Elections will be held Thursday in another closed session. Scott said that he expects at least ten candidates to run for the seat.

Scott takes the place of Rep. Mark Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, who resigned last Tuesday, the same day he plead guilty to charges of drunk driving and child endangerment.

"I'll continue to be a soldier in the caucus," Richardson said. "I look forward to debating on the floor and serving the conservative agenda."