Jan Sutherland is looking to follow in her son’s footsteps, but two challengers for the 99th District State House seat have other ideas.

Bart Korman and Rick Smith are opposing Sutherland in next Tuesday’s Republican primary race.

The three Republican candidates are vying to succeed Mike Sutherland, who has held the seat for the past eight years and cannot run again because of term limits.

The winner, who will serve a two-year term, will be sworn in January 2011. 

This is Korman’s second attempt at seeking the seat for the 99th District seat. He lost in the primary in 2002 to Mike Sutherland. The 34-year-old High Hill resident is employed as an engineer and surveyor at Warrenton-based Lewis-Bade Inc. He also is the Montgomery County surveyor, having been appointed in 2005 and then re-elected in 2008.

Smith, 52, of Jonesburg, owns R.W. Smith and Company, Inc., and operates insurance offices in Jonesburg and Lake Saint Louis.

Jan Sutherland, of Warrenton, formerly worked in a variety of positions in the Warren County R-III School District and is now in her second term on the R-III School Board.

She acknowledged that she will lean on her son’s relationships at the state level, but added that she has a new perspective and fresh ideas that she will bring to the table. Her top priorities include holding the line on taxes, improving education and creating more jobs.

“His peers know I come from some of the same philosophies,” Sutherland said. “I won’t be looked at as a newcomer in the same sense as the other two candidates. I also have talked with legislators and sat in the House and Senate and listened to the issues. I am familiar with the work in Jeff City.”

Although she is currently in her second term on the R-III school board, Sutherland doesn’t see any conflict in being able to make the monthly meetings. In particular, she feels her background from working in the R-III district and being on the board will be beneficial to dealing with education issues at the state level.

“I know how the state interacts with the school districts,” Sutherland said. “I can be a liaison. I think it gives me an advantage both ways.”

Korman said he doesn’t have a set agenda, but is in favor of infrastructure improvements and job creation. He notes that his broad background includes working in agriculture, a small family business, the corporate world and with governmental entities.

 “If we can develop good infrastructure, it will benefit our industries and agriculture sectors to compete on the world market,” Korman said.

“At times, I get frustrated with our government. I believe the best thing to do is take an active role, have a voice. You have to serve the people.”

With his job as an engineer, Korman feels his experience can help with future growth and luring new companies to the area.

“As an engineer I make projects happen within budget and within regulations that meet the clients’ needs,” Korman said. “I can take the same attitude and approach to Jeff City.”

Smith also feels he has the experience to provide more jobs to the district. His prior public service includes serving on the Warren County Planning and Zoning Board for 9 1/2 years. Several years ago, he was unsuccessful in a bid for presiding commissioner.

“I’m trying to cut down on wasteful government spending and wasteful ways they are doing daily business,” Smith said. “I’m not big on new laws. I want to run this as a business.

“With a corporate or small business, you may look at different levels of money, but in the overall plan you have to run it the same way.”

If elected, he said he would host town hall meetings throughout the district to learn constituents’ concerns.

“I’m tired of the Republican and Democratic fighting,” Smith said. “We have to roll up our sleeves. With my union and company background, I have the ability to sit down and discuss all the actions and duties we have to perform. I will be able to work with everybody.”

The 99th District covers nearly all of Warren County and a large portion of Montgomery County.