Ten candidates are vying for the Democratic nomination for the 3rd Congressional District seat currently held by Richard Gephardt, D-south county, in the Tuesday, Aug. 3, primary election.

The 10 candidates — Joan Barry, Michael Bram, Russ Carnahan, Mike Evans, Mariano Favazza, Jo Ann Karll, Corey Mohn, Jeff Smith, Mark Smith and Steve Stoll — are seeking the Democratic nomination to the seat Gephardt has held since 1976. He is not seeking re-election.

The Democratic nominee will square off in November against either Republican Bill Federer or Joan McGivney and Libertarian Kevin Babcock.

Candidates featured in this article are Barry, Bram and Favazza. Carnahan and Evans did not respond to a Call questionnaire before press time.

Asked to identify the most important issue in the race, the candidates responded:

• “The single most important issue is providing access to quality and affordable health care for every American,” Barry said. “There are at least 43.6 million Americans without health insurance and millions of others with inadequate coverage. This results in higher health-care costs and delayed or denied care. The poor health and premature death rates of those lacking coverage is a national disgrace. This demands prompt and effective action by Congress.”

• “Stopping the outright theft of Americans through market manipulation and outright lies, which have wiped out seniors and the working middle class,” Bram said.

• “The single most important issue in this race is jobs, because from them come the taxes that pay for everything else,” Favazza said.

Barry, 63, 5050 Lampglow Court, 63129, is a registered nurse. She and her husband, Philip, have four grown children.

Barry, who represented the 100th District in the Missouri House from 1997 to 2003, said she is seeking the Democratic nomination to the 3rd Congressional District seat “to continue the work I began in Jefferson City — improving and expanding health care and fighting for working families.”

Bram, 37, 4140 Old Baumgartner Road, 63129, is a chef and a self-employed organic farmer. He and his wife, Barbara, have two children ages 4½ and 3.

Bram, who two years ago ran against Gephardt in the Democratic primary, said he is seeking the Democratic nod because “I take no campaign contributions (and) I want to deliver truthful answers instead of lies, deceit and vote-buying schemes.”

Favazza, 51, 6056 Sutherland Ave., 63109, is an attorney who is serving as the circuit clerk for the city of St. Louis. He and his wife, Elaine, have eight children ranging in age from 26 to 10.

Favazza, who is in his second term as circuit clerk, said he is seeking the Democratic nomination because “I want to help our families and protect our children’s future serving our country and the families of our district. I want to go to Congress to represent us, not the national party.”