Candidates in local Statehouse races are beginning to emerge, but Republicans have yet to come to the table with their full lineup.

St. Joseph Democrats in the last week have announced a familiar face will return to the contest for the 28th House District and challenge the former president of the Northwest Missouri Republican Club.

Also, a local union representative will try his hand in politics with a bid for the 29th House District and Buchanan County Clerk Pat Conway will vie for the 27th House District.

But the latter two races still have no GOP contenders.

“Those two districts are traditionally heavily Democrat, but there are some people looking hard at it,” said Mik Chester, a St. Joseph pastor running in the 28th. “I am sure of that. I can’t imagine it going unopposed. This election is way too important for that. This election is all about control of the majority.”

The party that holds the majority in 2010 will control any redistricting. And roughly 40 Republicans, who hold majorities in both the Senate and the House, are term-limited, which leaves wide-open races.

“I think there will be a more organized effort by the (Democratic) party to reclaim seats,” said St. Joseph Democrat Mark Sheehan, who is challenging Mr. Chester for the 28th House District, which covers both Andrew and Buchanan counties.

Mr. Sheehan, the former News-Press Opinion Page editor, in 2009 unsuccessfully challenged the current seat holder Rep. Dr. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph.

“I ran because I thought I could do a good job in Jefferson City and that hasn’t changed,” Mr. Sheehan said.

Dr. Schaaf now is running against Rep. Jason Brown, R-Platte City, in the Republican primary for the 34th Senatorial District, which term-limited Sen. Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, now occupies.

Rep. Martin Rucker, D-St. Joseph, over the weekend announced formal intentions to vacate his 29th District for a run at the Senate seat, too.

Mr. Rucker’s early departure from the House opened a window for Bill Caldwell to announce his intentions for the 29th. Mr. Caldwell, chairman of the Buchanan County Central Democratic Committee, lost a bid for the same Senate seat in 1998 to Mr. Shields.

“We need people down there that have worked for a living,” Mr. Caldwell said. “We’ve gotten away from the basics.”

Also, Mr. Conway will be stepping down from the county clerk post to run for the 27th House District, which Rep. Ed Wildberger, D-St. Joseph, is leaving because of term limits.

Longtime Northwest Missouri Republican Ken Beck said the party is conducting interviews for the 27th and 29th districts.

Expect an announcement at the area GOP’s annual picnic, he said.

The social is set for the evening of Sept. 20 at the estate of Stuart and Janet Moser, at 12711 Oak Drive in Savannah.

Alyson E. Raletz can be reached

at alysonraletz@npgco.com.