Platte County Republicans were scrambling last week after a surprise was dropped in their laps when State Rep. Vic Allred informed the party he was dropping out of the general election just days after the primary vote.
“Unfortunately we’ve had a 95 mph curve ball thrown at us and we’ve got to hit it out of the park,” said Fred Pouche during a special meeting of the Platte County Republican Central Committee on Wednesday, Aug. 12. “It’s a very unusual situation.”
Pouche, who chaired the meeting, is listed as the group’s treasurer according to its website. Pouche also served three terms in the Missouri House of Representatives from the same 13th District that Allred currently serves.
“I never imagined I would have to chair a meeting to do this in Platte County,” a frustrated sounding Pouche said. “We have a very good district that we need to keep and hold and it’s going to take a lot of work in a short period of time.”
The Platte County Citizen attended the meeting via the Zoom application.
Ultimately the group interviewed two candidates before settling on Pouche’s son, Sean Pouche, to represent Republicans in the November election. There were some legal questions, before the vote, about Fred Pouche sitting on the committee and voting. Fred Pouche recused himself from the secret ballot which turned out to be 6-2 in favor of Pouche over former Nebraska lawmaker Beau McCoy. McCoy served two terms in the Nebraska legislature before running for governor in 2014. McCoy lost to the current Gov. Pete Ricketts in the primary.
Sean Pouche isn’t new to the political arena. Pouche ran for the Missouri House 14th District seat in 2016 but lost the Republican primary to former State Rep. Kevin Corlew.
Both candidates were asked if there was anything in their background that could be used for “fodder” by Democrats in the election. Pouche said Corlew’s campaign trumped up a charge that was proven false.
“I’ve got nothing to hide,” Pouche said.
Candidates were asked general questions about their stance on issues such as abortion, gun rights and right to work.
“If you don’t want to join a union you shouldn’t have to,” Pouche told the committee.
When asked why he’s running and what qualifications he had Pouche cited his service in the Navy and his time running his family business - Platte Rental Supply. Pouche said families are hurting with the COVID-19 pandemic and they need a strong voice in Jefferson City.
“I think we need someone who is unashamed to be patriotic and willing to do what’s right for Missouri, the country and Platte County,” Pouche said.
Pouche’s opponent, Vic Abundis, won the Democratic Primary and had planned on facing Allred but was surprised when the Platte County Citizen told him about the news of Allred’s dropping out. Abundis said he doesn’t know Allred personally but had heard good things about him from friends.
“I thought Vic versus Vic was going to be kind of fun,” Abundis told the Platte County Citizen in a phone interview. “I’m a little bit disappointed I won’t be facing off against Vic Allred because he had a really good reputation of being a steward of the community.”
Allred, who could not be reached for comment, was just finishing his first term after being elected in 2018.
Platte County Republican Central Committee chairman James Rooney released a statement saying that no one could have foreseen the COVID-19 pandemic or predict its effects. Allred is the owner of Jazz a Louisiana Kitchen with three locations in the Kansas City area. Rooney said even without a pandemic it’s a personal sacrifice to serve in the legislature but also indicated the timing was unfortunate.
“It’s a personal sacrifice to serve in the state legislature in Jefferson City in the best of times,” Rooney said in the statement. “Rep. Allred’s decision to withdraw from the race for business and personal reasons was not an easy decision, but came too late for removal from the primary ballot.”
Abundis has been a Park Hill High School teacher for the last 15 years and went back to school last week to begin another year. Abundis said with the COVID-19 pandemic he respects what Allred had to do.
“He has employees he has to pay and a restaurant to own,” Abundis said. “The fact that he’s decided to dedicate fully into his restaurant and his employees I think speaks a lot to his character taking care of his workers.”
During the 2018 campaign Allred’s slogan was “Pick Vic.” The slogan wouldn’t have done much this time around with both candidates named Vic but perhaps Abundis can dust off the slogan for his own.
“There can still be a Vic representing the 13th District and still do a good job,” Abundis said. “It just happens to be Vic Abundis.”