Democrats in Kirkwood think they’ve pulled a big election upset that is a repudiation of the policies of Governor Matt Blunt. Republicans say their victories in two other legislative races repudiate the Democrats’ claims. Three vacant legislative seats have been filled with Democrat Jane Bogetto beating Moira Byrd in a race for the House of Representatives. Bogetto replaces Byrd’s husband, Richard, who died last June. Republican Representative Jack Goodman has won a vacant seat in the State Senate defeating former Representatrive Nolan McNeil. It’s a Republican district in southwest Missouri. Goodman is from Mount Vernon. He succeeds Senator Larry Gene Taylor, who died last July. He is 32 and will be the youngest member of the Senate. Republican Jason Smith of Salem won the other House race, defeating Democrat Bobby Simpson for the seat that Representative Frank Barnitz gave up to become a Senator. That seat switches from Democrat to Republican with this election.
