State Rep. John McCaherty (R-Fenton) said he resigned from his 97th District seat in the Missouri House of Representatives to concentrate on running for Jefferson County executive in 2018.
McCaherty, 52, said he submitted his letter of resignation Sept. 15 to Gov. Eric Greitens and Speaker of the House Todd Richardson (R-Poplar Bluff), and his resignation took effect Monday.
Even though he has resigned his seat, McCaherty said people who live in his district may still seek assistance from his office in Jefferson City.
“My legislative assistant will continue to work for the people of my district. They can still call my office. It will continue operating until the end of the term or until the governor calls for a special election,” he said.
McCaherty said serving in a part-time legislature while balancing multiple jobs has proven exceptionally challenging.
“I was working three or four jobs when you combine the state representative seat with the start of the campaign and my other jobs,” McCaherty said.
He said he works in maintenance at a campground and also for an auto parts store to support his family and will continue working at those jobs.
“This way, I can focus on my campaign without the back and forth to Jefferson City,” McCaherty said.
He said another factor in his decision was that because of term limits he could not run for another term as state representative after his current term ends in December 2018. He was re-elected to that term, his fourth, in November 2016.
“If I’m going to give something up, I’d rather give something up I’m about to lose,” McCaherty said.
McCaherty said he does not believe Greitens will call for a special election to fill his vacated seat since Republicans hold a huge majority (117-46) in the state House.
“I doubt he does that,” McCaherty said. “Why spend the money (on an election)?”
Greitens’ office did not respond to requests for comment by Leader deadline on Monday.
McCaherty said he does not think resigning his seat will haunt him in the county executive race.
“I think I’m doing it for the right reasons,” he said. “If somebody uses it against me, that’s politics.”
McCaherty said he thinks he would make a good county executive.
“The county needs leadership and focus,” he said.
McCaherty announced he would run for county executive on July 18, the day after Ken Waller, the current county executive, announced he would not run for another term. Waller became the county’s first elected county executive under the Charter in 2010 and was re-elected to a second four-year term in 2014.
Filing for the Aug. 7, 2018, primary election will run from Feb. 27 to March 27.
The county executive’s salary is $81,149 a year. The pay for a state representative, considered a part-time job, is $35,915 a year, plus $113 per day for meals and lodging while in session.