KING CITY, Mo. — Wind and politicking are picking up in Gentry County as two King City natives compete for a seat in the Missouri House of Representatives — again.

Democrat Mike Waltemath has struck out three times before in 5th House District elections, while Rep. Jim Guest, a Republican, won each contest.

Now Mr. Guest is going for his fourth term and Mr. Waltemath is continuing on with a fourth challenge.

Despite his prior wins, the incumbent says he isn’t taking any chances, while the Democrat is banking on anti-Republican sentiment to turn the polls to his favor.

“Maybe people are trying to tell him something,” Mr. Guest said, noting Mr. Waltemath also lost his spot on the King City Board of Education in a recent election.

Still, Mr. Guest’s mobilizing volunteers for a full-on campaign effort.

“I’m taking this very seriously. People tell you you’re doing a good job and not to worry ... but last time the race was fairly close. You never take anything for granted,” he said.

It was a difference of 289 votes in 2006, Mr. Waltemath clarified. He’d gained ground. Two years earlier, Mr. Guest had won by more than 1,000 votes.

The same issues that drew Mr. Waltemath to the race six years ago have enticed his repeated returns: education funding, upkeep of rural roads and health care, he said.

And he said he doesn’t believe Republicans have done an adequate job of addressing those issues.

“Let’s just say that if I were an employer and I had an employee that had produced no more in the past five years, I’m afraid that employee wouldn’t be working there any more,” Mr. Waltemath said. “In all honesty, I don’t know what he’s done.”

Mr. Guest, the House’s fiscal review chairman, has become notable as one of the Legislature’s most avid privacy rights advocates. During his recent tenure, he’s led a nationwide coalition against the Federal Real ID Act of 2005, which opened the door for national driver’s license requirements.

He said voters again would back him this November, “because of my experience and my track record of protecting the freedom of Americans,” he said, noting his other efforts to stop the national animal identification program and human microchipping.

Added Mr. Waltemath, “That’s all well and good, but that’s a federal issue. There are things that are more pertinent to individuals in our district.”

Mr. Waltemath is known locally for being one of the first farmers to take part in a land-lease program with Wind Capital Group, which has scattered white windmills across King City’s landscape.

Financially, Mr. Guest is in a better position, though. The Republican showed nearly $21,300 in cash on hand, according to his July Missouri Ethics Commission report. Mr. Waltemath’s fundraising left him with about $2,421 in cash.

Alyson E. Raletz can be reached

at alysonraletz@npgco.com.