By Michael Bushnell
Northeast News
February 27, 2012

In an email sent to supporters of his past state House campaigns, Northeast resident and former state Rep. John Burnett formally announced his candidacy for the newly formed 7th State Senatorial District with one caveat. The newly released re-districting map creating the new district would have to be approved by the State Senate Redistricting Commission.  Burnett stated in his email, “If the commission does finalize these new lines and we have an election in 6 months rather than 30 months, I am running for the newly created 7th District Missouri Senate seat.”

Burnett has made no secret about his aspirations for the seat but had planned to run for the seat when current state Sen. Jolie Justus termed out of office in 2014.

A number of factors are still in play, however, regarding the newly released map but the buzz about the open seat has a number of area politicos scrambling, mostly on the Democrat side of the house. State Reps. John Rizzo and Mike Talboy have already released statements indicating they’ll seek re-election to their state House seats, citing unfinished legislative business for their respective communities. Jackson County Legislator Crystal Williams, on her Facebook page over the weekend, said her supporters think she’d be a “great fit for the district,” but came short of committing to a run for the newly created open seat. No Republicans to date have expressed interest in the seat.

Traditionally, an open seat brings all comers, experienced and inexperienced, creating an often times bloody primary race. John Burnett, at least at this point, is the only candidate to formally throw his hat in the ring for the seat. If the map is approved, candidates will run in the August primary election and the November general and be seated in January of 2013.