Republican Rudy Veit easily defeated Democrat Linda Ellen Greeson on Tuesday to represent Missouri House District 59 for the next two years.
The seat currently is occupied by term-limited Rep. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Jefferson City, who won his Missouri Senate race Tuesday.
In unofficial totals reported by the county clerks in Cole and Miller counties, Veit of Wardsville captured 11,795 votes or about 75.9 percent of the total - more than three times as many as Greeson of Eldon. She received 3,751 votes or 24.1 percent.
"My challenge in life isn't any different than anybody else's," Veit said before the totals were announced. "We all have the challenge of trying to go up there and make life a little better."
Veit said he has some talent he's eager to share in the General Assembly.
He is a Jefferson City area attorney who overcame four other Republicans in the primary. He defeated Karen Leydens and Kendra Lane, of Jefferson City, Randy Dinwiddie, of Olean, and Rik Combs, of Lohman. Veit received 50.5 percent of votes cast in the Republican primary election.
During the campaign, he said he intended to use his background as a litigator to help convince people on both sides of the aisle to make concessions. He said when a fair settlement is reached in a legal struggle, neither party is completely satisfied.
Greeson, a retired teacher who with her husband runs a small cattle operation, ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination in August.
She said attacks on unions are attacks on working people. She added unions offer training for people in the trades. During the campaign, she warned efforts to reduce unions would hurt Missouri's economy. She hoped to educate other legislators about the need for services.
Greeson said the current General Assembly would like state employees to work as a business. However, they can't do that without the tools they need such as improved technology.
Both said the state needs to look at creating additional revenue sources to fund the state's roads.
Veit said he intends to keep an open mind when he arrives at the Capitol.
"I have the idea that I want to go up there and learn. In every area of life, there is somebody who knows more than I do," Veit said. "I don't believe that it's my job to go up there and tell everybody what we should do."
Veit described Greeson as a wonderful person. He said his family sat down and had dinner with hers. While they don't agree on everything, they could talk. Veit said the Greesons are "delightful people."
The Jefferson City News Tribune was unable to reach Greeson on Tuesday night.
Veit said at a gathering Tuesday night that he was cheered by family and friends, including the doctor who saved his life in 1973.
The district covers a portion of eastern Jefferson City, most of Cole County and a portion of northern Miller County.
Veit said he understands that his job will be to listen to others.
"Keeping in mind," he said, "that government is not the answer to everything."
Bernskoetter will succeed now-Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe as the state senator from Senate District 60. Bernskoetter outdistanced his Democratic challenger, Nicole Thompson, of Jefferson City, in Tuesday's election.