Romine is voters’ choice on Republican ticket

Voters in St. Francois County and throughout State Senate District 3 chose Gary Romine to run on the Republican ticket in November for the seat currently held by Sen. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington.

Romine received 8,258 votes in the Republican primary to 4,083 votes for challenger Terry Varner. Among St. Francois County voters, Romine received 3,368 votes to 1,514 for Varner. Results are unofficial until certified.

The win means Romine will face Democrat candidate Joseph Fallert Jr. of Ste. Genevieve on the November ballot.

“I want to thank all my friends and family who got involved in this campaign,” Romine said. “Word of mouth is still the best form of advertising.”

 Romine, 56, said his experience in education and business, as well as his time working in the legislature, will help him in the race against Fallert. Romine served one year as Engler’s chief of staff, and another as a legislative staff member. He also served as chief of staff for a year for 22nd district Senator Bill Alter, R-Jefferson County.

“I’m looking forward to the race in November,” he said. “My experience puts me in a position to be very prepared to go into the next leg of this race.”

This is Romine’s second run at state office. In 2004, he lost to Steven Tilley in the race for the state representative seat in the House’s 106th district.

He was elected to the Mineral Area Board of Trustees in 2007.

Romine has lived in the district 32 years. He is married to Kathy and they have five children.

He attended Three Rivers Community College and Central Missouri State University and is owner of the Desloge Show Me Rent-to-Own. Romine also serves as chairman of the board for MRV Banks.

During his run for the primary, Romine said budgeting is the most important issue facing the state. He wants to focus on a zero-based budgeting process, with a needs-based approach and rewards to good stewards of fiscal responsibility.

If elected in November, Romine said he would work on individual concerns as well as help businesses navigate state agencies to open or expand business. He also wants to help make education as relative as possible to help motivate children to learn.

If he earns the seat, he promises to be available to constituents and open to their concerns.

Paula Barr is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 172 or at pbarr@dailyjournalonline.com.