Candidacies announced for two state House seats representing Springfield

Two political candidates are seeking Missouri House of Representatives seats that represent Springfield, according to separate announcements in recent days.

Jerry Angelo is running for House District 133, which represents a portion of west and southwest Springfield. Jacey Buckles has thrown his hat in the ring for House District 136, which covers a portion of southeast Springfield.

The primary election is scheduled Aug. 4.

Jerry Angelo
Angelo, a Republican, is running for the seat currently held by Rep. Melanie Stinnett, R-Springfield. Stinnett previously announced a bid for Missouri Senate District 30. 

The co-founder of Vanguard Marriage & Family Advocates, Angelo has some 27 years of technology experience, according to a news release.

Angelo's campaign is focused on strengthening families and easing financial pressure on working households, as well as supporting first responders.

"I’m not running to fight political battles,” Angelo said in the release. “I’m running to solve real problems for families right here in our community. When families are strong, everything else improves – our schools, our economy and our neighborhoods.”

Angelo filed campaign committee paperwork with the Missouri Ethics Commission on Feb. 13, according to commission records posted online.

Katelyn Zach, a Democrat, is currently the only other candidate running for District 133 that is listed with in MEC online records search results. Zach announced her candidacy last summer. 

Jacey Buckles
Buckles, a Republican, is running for the seat currently held by Rep. Stephanie Hein, D-Springfield.

Buckles is co-owner of FTS Heating & Cooling, according to the company's Better Business Bureau profile.

If elected, he intends to focus on cost of living, public safety and generational investment, according to a news release.

“I am running to bring bold vision and leadership that strengthens our state, improves our city and builds a future for us and our children," Buckles said in the release. "Springfield is a great city, filled with people of great potential. I want to be a part of helping Springfield unlock that potential to become a regional, and even national, beacon of education, business and entrepreneurship."

Buckles filed campaign committee paperwork Feb. 13, MEC online records show. Both Buckles and Hein have filed with the MEC for the Aug. 4 primary election.