MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
JEFFERSON CITY - Hours after Rep. Mark Richardson announced that he will step down from his position as House Minority Leader because of a drunk driving and child endangerment arrest, the campaign for his successor began.
Among legislators vying for the highest Republican seat in the House is Rep. Carson Ross, R-Blue Springs, who, if elected, would become the first black Republican floor leader in Missouri history.
Ross is the only member of the Republican caucus who is black.
"I'm certain that this would be a first," he said. "But I don't look at it in those terms. It's just an incidental. I think I've done a good job and I pride myself in fairness and opportunity for all people, regardless."
Other candidates include Republican Caucus Chairman Delbert Scott, R-Lowry, and Luann Ridgeway, R-Smithville.
Assistant Minority Floor Leader Don Lograsso will be filling in for Richardson until Monday when the caucus will meet again to elect a permanent floor leader. But, Lograsso announced that he will not be running as a candidate for the position.
"I have been very pleased with my position as assistant floor leader and feel that is where I should stay," he said.
Richardson, a Poplar Bluff Republican, was arrested Friday night on U.S. Highway 50. He registered a blood alcohol level of 0.11 percent on a breath test. The limit in Missouri is 0.10 percent. Richardson's 4 year-old daughter was a passenger in the car.
This was Richardson's second arrest for drunk driving and child endangerment. Two years ago, he was acquitted on similar charges in Arkansas after evidence was submitted that cold medicine he was taking could have inflated the blood-alcohol test.
"The last few days have been a thoughtful time for me," Richardson said Tuesday morning after emerging from the closed-door GOP caucus meeting convened to discuss the issue. "I've reached the decision to step down immediately. That decision was made after weighing the things that are important to me. I did not feel that I was forced to resign. This decision was a tough one and was one that I made on my own."
Richardson said his decision was voluntary, although several Republicans said publicly that he should resign.
Richardson has pled guilty to both charges and faces 200 hours of community service and attendance at the Substance Abuse Traffic Offenders Program (SATOP).
"I will be held accountable for what I did," he said. "I was guilty."