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Shelton says independent candidacy possible

Missouri's two most experienced black lawmakers are at odds about allowing a white Democrat to run for a historically black seat in Missouri's Senate. Aaron Cummins has the story from Jefferson City--

O.L. Shelton and Quincy Troupe have served in Jefferson City for a combined 40 years.

Both men wanted to run for the vacant 4th District Senate seat.

But, after Troupe withdrew his name from consideration and pushed his support to Patrick Dougherty, Dougherty won the right to run.

Troupe says Dougherty will better represent blacks than Shelton would have.

But, Shelton doesn't agree. He says he'd represent all of his constituents.

And, he says, running as an independent is a possibility.

In Jefferson City, Aaron Cummins, KMOX-News.

A black representative says there's a chance he'll run as an independent for a historically black Missouri Senate seat.

Aaron Cummins has more from Jefferson City--

Missouri's first black senator was elected from the fourth Senatorial district in 1960.

Since then, the seat has always been held by a black Democrat.

But, when a board convened Saturday to choose a Democratic candidate for the now-vacant seat, Patrick Dougherty, a white St. Louis City representative, was picked to run.

O.L. Shelton, a representative in Jefferson City since 1983, was another possible candidate.

Now, he says an independent candidacy isn't out of the question.

A special election to fill the seat is scheduled for January 24th.

From the state capital, Aaron Cummins, KMOX-News.