David Gregory prevailed over Dan Reuter in the Republican primary for the 96th District Missouri House seat.

Gregory received 3,944 votes — 62.51 percent — while Reuter garnered 2,365 votes — 37.49 percent — in Tuesday’s primary, according to unofficial election results.

Gregory will be unopposed in the November general election.

Two political newcomers are vying for the Republican nomination for the 96th District Missouri House seat currently held by Rep. Mike Leara, R-Concord, who is unable to seek re-election due to term limits.

David Gregory and Dan Reuter are seeking their party’s nod in the Aug. 2 primary. The victor will be unopposed in the November election.

• “Ensuring the future of conservative Christian principles. Many people in the district see our state and our country going in the wrong direction. I want to keep those principles and bring them to the next generation of voters,” Gregory said.

• “The economy. We need to help businesses grow and create good-paying, full-time jobs,” Reuter said.

Gregory, 31, 12820 Weber Hill Road, Sunset Hills, is an attorney with Drivers Defense Counsel.

He said he is seeking the Republican nomination because he wants “to fight for south county values in Jefferson City.”

Reuter, 65, 10159 Tanbridge Road, Concord, is an elder law and estate planning attorney. He and his wife, Pat, have three grown children.

Reuter served on the county Planning Commission for two years in the early 1990s. He said he is seeking the Republican nomination because “my wife and I have resided in the district for 30-plus years. From owning a home, raising our children, attending church, helping many families at my law firm and being involved with many community organizations, I understand personally the problems those in our district face.

“I want to give back to the community that has been so good to me, my family and my business.”

Gregory said, “I am pro-life, plain and simple. I will say again and again and again that this issue is non-negotiable.”

Reuter said, “I am 100-percent pro-life and proud to have the endorsement of Missouri Right to Life PAC (Political Action Committee). I believe in the sanctity of life at all stages.”

Gregory said, “I support the death penalty in those circumstances where it is appropriate.”

Reuter said, “(The) death penalty should remain an option for the worst offenders.”

Gregory said, “I am generally supportive of greater local control in issues surrounding education. I do think this is ultimately something that should be left to voters in their local districts. I would like to see them decide what is appropriate.”

Reuter said, “No.”

Gregory said, “As it stands, I do see why many people are concerned, particularly as it relates to hold-harmless provisions that may be seen as artificially propping up small schools in rural areas.

“What may be needed most is an update of the funding formula.”

Reuter said, “Yes, it is too confusing.”

Gregory said, “I will support any law that expands the freedoms of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms.

“That includes the recently vetoed Senate Bill 656. I will, of course, oppose any measure that seeks to restrict those freedoms for law-abiding Missourians.”

Reuter said, “I am pro-Second Amendment rights and will fight for the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens and limit government regulations.”

Gregory said, “Any changes to the law would surround process. Many see a complicated and cumbersome process, that is often ignored. It should be easy for private entities to keep their government accountable.”

Reuter said, “I believe in transparency and accountability for all government bodies.”

Gregory said, “There are many different reforms that need to be considered. This includes how we classify certain highways, the kinds of contracts we draft for big projects and who carries the tax burden for wear and tear on the roads. In the short term, our state allocates a very small share of money from general revenue compared to other states.

“This is appropriate, however it could provide a short term and only short-term solution.”

Reuter said, “MoDOT (the Missouri Department of Transportation) needs to be more accountable to taxpayers before we know if there is enough funding already, more money is needed, or how much more.”

Gregory said, “Absolutely not. This is an issue of great concern to people in the district. They do not wish to take on many of the problems that would come with a city-county merger, and I share that view.”

Reuter said, “No, I strongly oppose the merger.”

Gregory said, “I would need to see the details of any proposed legislation. Government accountability is extremely important to me, but I would not want to support anything that could expose information that puts Missouri citizens or law enforcement at risk.”

Reuter said, “All government bodies need to be transparent and accountable to the taxpayer.”

Gregory said, “Our teachers provide an important and sacrificial service. We need to ensure that they are taken care of in retirement. I would need to be assured that any changes to pensions or retirement safety nets do not bring harm to teachers.”

Reuter said, “I propose complete disclosure to the taxpayer as to the impact on education cost.”

Gregory said, “Issues of good governance often go by the wayside. As a young legislator, I feel this would be a wonderful area to begin. I want to be a different kind of representative and doing so means taking measures to increase accountability and change the revolving door culture in Jefferson City.”

Reuter said, “I would sponsor legislation that helps raise awareness of human trafficking. In June 2016, I helped organize an event at Lindbergh High School to raise awareness in our community that human trafficking is happening right here. I want to continue that fight to protect those who could otherwise become victims.”

Gregory said, “My own community of Sunset Hills was affected when the county ran out of ballots during municipal elections. We need to ensure that alternatives such as electronic voting machines are always available, elections should be held in reasonable increments and a merit-based hiring system should be strongly considered.”

Reuter said, “The secretary of state’s office should have foreseen the problems that occurred in St. Louis County during the spring elections and should have been quicker to resolve the issues there. I support reforms to streamline and improve electioneering.”

Gregory said, “This has been an issue prominent in (the) Mehlville School District. We need to make sure that receiving school districts are properly equipped to handle such transfers as well as safeguarding them from a burden they cannot take on.”

Reuter said, “I support students being educated in their own community. Expansion of charter schools and other education options would help improve the quality of education.”

Gregory said, “My concern surrounding campaign finance lies less in the amount of money given and more on transparency. Voters and the press should be given every opportunity to assess the relationships between politicians and those that contribute.”

Reuter said, “No, this violates free speech and I am concerned would lead to funding through many shady PACs. Full disclosure of where funds come from is better.”

Gregory said, “Missouri is often singled out for its eminent domain situation. The area where I am concerned surrounds the definition of ‘blighted’ areas. It seems very easy for governments and big developers to seize large swaths of land on very vague terms. This again would be more suited to local governments, who carry the responsibility of keeping their citizens safe rather than an outside entity looking to bring in revenue.”

Reuter said, “Use of this taking of one’s property needs to be closely scrutinized and be a last resort and only for benefit of the community.”

Gregory said, “Right now, we see far too much abuse with governments picking winners and losers via TIFs. I would like to see measures that keep governments from giving sweet deals to for example, move a store across the street. A good effort to reform the regime was made this year in the form of SB 774, which sought to curb many of these abuses.”

Reuter said, “It has been abused, and I will support reforms.”