Republican Lisa Durnell

A lifelong resident of the area, Durnell announced her run in March with a release that said she, “sees a need for true conservative representation for the district.” 

 

Durnell won the Republican party nomination in August with a commanding 18-point lead over opponents Mark B. Collins and Larry Lindeman. Her platform is characterized by conservative stances on social and financial issues. 

 

Durnell is a mother and a grandmother who said in her initial release, “I look at my children and my grandbaby and know – even at this point – they will not be able to experience a truly free country unless good people step up and try to ‘right’ the ship.”

 

Though willing and able to discuss each of the proposed amendments that will be on November’s ballot, Durnell was eager to revisit a plank in her opinion primary campaign platform - Missouri needs Initiative Petition reform.

 

“Why do we need these topics in our [State] Constitution?” she asked. “None of these would have been on the ballot if we had IP reform.”

 

Achieving that reform is “high on [Durnell’s] list of things to do.”

 

Amendment 2-Sports Wagering

Opposed

“I’m old enough to remember the lottery,” Durnell told Howell County News. She went on to explain that she does not trust a proposal that only mentions educational funding in “one small piece,” but does outline a ‘compulsive gaming prevention fund.’

“We could just not create the problem to begin with,” Durnell said.

 

Amendment 3 – Abortion Constitutionally Protected

Opposed

“I’m not a fan,” Durnell said. “The most obvious reason is the abortion piece. Overall, the language is so worrisome to me – how it can be interpreted. We have to think about the worst-case scenarios…the definition of reproductive freedom is up for interpretation. The language ‘delay, denied, or otherwise restricted,’…could affect parental rights. That is super disturbing. Our children are ours.”

If it passes, Durnell says she will brainstorm with other conservatives on ways “to attack” the amendment.

 

Amendment 5 – Gambling boats on the Missouri and Osage Rivers

Opposed

Durnell considers this to be a regional issue and inappropriate on a statewide ballot. She reports it is her understanding that the people who live in the affected area do not want it to pass. 

“If they don’t want it, why is it a statewide vote?…Why do we need this in our Constitution?” she asked.

 

Amendment 6 – Costs and fees for former law enforcement personnel

Opposed to the amendment, not the topic

“We don’t need it in the Constitution,” she reiterated. “I’m totally in support of law enforcement issues, and this is something that could be handled in legislation.”

 

Amendment 7 – Election integrity, prohibiting ranked-choice voting and run-off elections

Could be persuaded

“I like the ‘only citizens can vote’ piece of course, but we need to provide a plan for how county clerks can do that,” she said. Durnell clarified that she does not approve of ranked-choice voting, but thinks run-off elections sometimes serve a purpose. She suggested the recent Republican gubernatorial primary as a ballot in which run-off elections could have been useful. 

 

Proposition A – Minimum wage increase and more

Opposed

“I don’t want people to misinterpret my reasons,” Durnell began. “Everyone getting higher pay would be good, but the free market needs to work.”

She discussed her concerns with the burdens Prop A would place on employers and the disadvantages long-term employees would face if new hires were paid the same rate. 

“It’s not fair for loyal employees,” she said.