By this time next week Republican candidate for Missouri’s House of Representatives 13th District seat, Sean Scobee Pouche, will know if his efforts to build a campaign with less than 90 days until an election was successful.
“It has been a whirlwind,” Pouche told the Platte County Citizen when asked what the experience has been like.
Pouche didn’t plan on running for the seat but the opportunity arose when the incumbent, Vic Allred, dropped out of the race just days after the Aug. 4, primary. Allred’s withdrawal left the Platte County Republican Central Committee scrambling to come up with a replacement.
The central committee put together an emergency meeting a week after the primary. Pouche was chose to run against Democrat Vic Abundis, that night at the meeting and it was on. Pouche admitted it’s not the way anyone would want to start.
“Obviously getting your name and your message out is the most important thing in a campaign and trying to do so from a dead stop in less than three months is a logistical concern,” Pouche said. “Adding to that the physical size and number of households in the district is a daunting task in a short time-frame.”
The 13th District is mostly urban-based. Its northern boundary primarily runs along Highway 92 and down to the river to include Parkville. The only southern portion of the county not included in the district is Riverside and Lake Waukomis area.
Any type of political campaign requires cash to operate and to get the message out. Pouche said it’s not easy to get contributions with so little time.
“Unfortunately, raising money is part of politics, and trying to convince someone that you share their values and will work hard to represent them and to donate their hard-earned money to you in a short time can be difficult.,” Pouche said.
Then there’s the obvious 2020 hurdle: the COVID-19 pandemic. Pouche said it’s been something he’s had to work around.
“Trying to do all of this and still keep people safe has been a unique experience,” Pouche said.
This isn’t the first time Pouche has run for office. In 2016 he mounted a primary challenge to then District 14 Rep. Kevin Corlew but fell short to the former representative in that race. Pouche said putting together the campaign has got the juices going again.
“Putting a viable campaign together in a short time has been exciting because you know what you need to do and you know when you need to do it by,” Pouche said. “It’s been a motivator for sure.”
Pouche said he’s also been motivated by the volunteers that have helped him put together the campaign. Pouche’s signs can be seen throughout the county.
“With some unbelievably generous volunteers stuffing mailings and door hangers, walking door to door, and helping put up signs, I believe we have done just that,” Pouche said about a robust campaign effort. “And we will continue working for the next weeks and beyond.”