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The showdown between two political newcomers for the Missouri House of Representative seat in the 49th District was not close Tuesday night.
Tom McDonald of Independence outlasted Democratic challenger and United States Air Force Reserves veteran Jason Parson of Kansas City by a count of 1,798 votes (69.85 percent) to 776 votes (30.14 percent).
The Jackson County Election Board reported McDonald received 1,520 votes (74.61 percent) to 517 votes (25.38 percent) for Parson. The Kansas City Election Board reported McDonald received in Kansas City 278 votes (51.76 percent)to Parson’s 259 (48.23).
McDonald and Parson were the only candidates for the seat vacated by former State Rep. Terry Young, a Democrat who did not seek re-election. There was no Republican entered, so McDonald will head to the statehouse unopposed in November.
McDonald, whose campaign centered on economic development and quality education opportunities for the 49th District’s school children in the Independence, Kansas City and Raytown school districts, said he was ready to make a difference in the community. McDonald and his wife, Lois – who ran for Independence mayor in 2006 – were instrumental in the grassroots efforts last November to get the annexation of seven schools in Independence and Sugar Creek in the Kansas City School District onto the ballot. The measure subsequently passed.
“First thing I want to do is thank the people who helped me,” McDonald said. “I intend to keep my focus and drive those issues forward.”
McDonald said on the heels of personal tragedies and professional setbacks, the victory had an extra special meaning. Last year, McDonald’s brother was one of the victims in a mall shooting rampage in Omaha, Neb. Friday, Lois McDonald’s Main Street Coffeehouse shut its doors due to an economic downturn.
“This is a little upturn,” McDonald said. “The loss of my brother was really devastating. I needed something to pick me up, so I decided to do this.”
The 49th District includes parts of Independence, Raytown and Kansas City. It is bounded by Truman Road to the north, Noland Road to the East, Little Blue Road to the south and extends past Raytown Road to the west into parts of Kansas City.
The showdown between two political newcomers for the Missouri House of Representative seat in the 49th District was not close Tuesday night.
Tom McDonald of Independence outlasted Democratic challenger and United States Air Force Reserves veteran Jason Parson of Kansas City by a count of 1,798 votes (69.85 percent) to 776 votes (30.14 percent).
The Jackson County Election Board reported McDonald received 1,520 votes (74.61 percent) to 517 votes (25.38 percent) for Parson. The Kansas City Election Board reported McDonald received in Kansas City 278 votes (51.76 percent)to Parson’s 259 (48.23).
McDonald and Parson were the only candidates for the seat vacated by former State Rep. Terry Young, a Democrat who did not seek re-election. There was no Republican entered, so McDonald will head to the statehouse unopposed in November.
McDonald, whose campaign centered on economic development and quality education opportunities for the 49th District’s school children in the Independence, Kansas City and Raytown school districts, said he was ready to make a difference in the community. McDonald and his wife, Lois – who ran for Independence mayor in 2006 – were instrumental in the grassroots efforts last November to get the annexation of seven schools in Independence and Sugar Creek in the Kansas City School District onto the ballot. The measure subsequently passed.
“First thing I want to do is thank the people who helped me,” McDonald said. “I intend to keep my focus and drive those issues forward.”
McDonald said on the heels of personal tragedies and professional setbacks, the victory had an extra special meaning. Last year, McDonald’s brother was one of the victims in a mall shooting rampage in Omaha, Neb. Friday, Lois McDonald’s Main Street Coffeehouse shut its doors due to an economic downturn.
“This is a little upturn,” McDonald said. “The loss of my brother was really devastating. I needed something to pick me up, so I decided to do this.”
The 49th District includes parts of Independence, Raytown and Kansas City. It is bounded by Truman Road to the north, Noland Road to the East, Little Blue Road to the south and extends past Raytown Road to the west into parts of Kansas City.
