South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

Four Republicans seek 2nd congressional district nomination

Four candidates are vying for the Republican nomination for the 2nd District congressional seat in the Tuesday, Aug. 7, primary.

Former Webster Groves Councilman Randy Jotte, former U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg Ann Wagner, Marine Corps veteran James Baker and John Morris, who has not held political office, are seeking their party’s nomination.

Asked to identify the most important issue in the race, candidates gave the follow responses:

• “Our nation’s most critical domestic issue is health care, which is tied to another critical challenge, our out-of-control deficit. Health care costs not only are one off the bigger contributors to massive future debt, health care costs are the No. 1 driver of future debt. These issues are dragging down the economy,” Jotte said.

“Our nation is drowning in debt and the partisan bickering is getting us nowhere. I’m an independent thinker who, just as with my patients in the hospital, seeks solutions, not rhetoric. I’m not a career politician or a member of the establishment — I’m an emergency physician. I believe my background as a physician gives me unique insight into what works and what doesn’t work in our health care system. Frankly, if we don’t get that down right, we are all in deep trouble — not just with health care but also our out-of-control deficit.”

• “Constitution. Follow it,” Morris said.

Baker and Wagner did not respond to a Call questionnaire.

Jotte, 52, Webster Groves, and his wife, Susan, have two children. Jotte is an emergency physician at Barnes Hospital.

In the past, Jotte held the following public offices: Chagrin Falls, Ohio Village Council, 1996 to 2001; Webster Groves City Council, 2004 to 2008; Webster Groves mayor pro tem 2006 to 2008

Jotte is seeking office “to return citizen-legislators to (Washington) D.C. and bring common sense to issues of importance of the people, particularly the economy, the deficit and health care.”

Morris, 59, St. Peters, is a printer for a graphics sign company. He said he is seeking office because “we the people need to get back to Constitution.”

The candidates gave the following responses to a Call questionnaire.

Jotte said, “I am pro-life from the moment of conception.”

Morris said, “Abortion is legal murder.”

Jotte did not respond to this question.

Morris said, “Support.”

Jotte did not respond to this question.

Morris said, “Need to stop spending the money brought in on other things. I do favor privatizing.”

• Are tougher gun control laws needed? If so, what do you propose?

Jotte did not respond to this question.

Morris said, “No. I believe in the Second Amendment.”

Jotte did not respond to this question.

Morris said, “No. Get federal government out of schools.”

Jotte did not respond to this question.

Morris said, “I would say all taxes need to be cut.”

Jotte did not respond to this question.

Morris said, “It does just that.”

Jotte did not respond to this question.

Morris said, “Get government at all levels out of health care. Allow to get across state lines.”

Jotte did not respond to this question.

Morris said, “No just look at the economy.”