These 2 Republicans are running for Missouri House District 138 in the Aug. 6 primary

Two men with roots in the community are vying for the District 138 state House seat, a district that covers part of Christian County and Stone County. Rep. Brad Hudson, Republican, has served the area in the Missouri legislature since 2018.

Tom Franiak, an area businessman, and Burt Whaley, a veteran and former educator, are both running as Republicans in the Aug. 6 primary election. There are no Democratic Party candidates for District 138.

Who is Tom Franiak?

Website: www.friendsoffraniak.org

Who is he? Franiak is a small business owner and stage 4 cancer survivor. He lives with his wife, Donni, and is a father and a grandfather. Franiak considers himself a Constitutionalist, has been endorsed by Missouri Right to Life and has an AQ grade from the NRA. According to the NRA, an AQ grade means a pro-gun candidate whose rating is based on questionnaire responses but who has no voting record.

Why is he running? "I'm a small business owner and after we had all our COVID lockdowns, I saw my friends struggling in their businesses and some of them losing their businesses," Franiak said in an interview. "In my viewpoint, this wasn't the America that our Founding Fathers set up for us. We weren't meant to be dictated to in that fashion."

He believes his 40 years of experience in business and conflict resolution will benefit him in Jefferson City.

"I've learned how to persuade people, how to resolve conflict," Franiak said. "I think taking that business experience to Jefferson City, I'll create the networks I need to create to get law passed or to get law repealed."

What does he want to do if elected? Franiak says his goal in Jefferson City is "to make sure that any laws we pass are Constitutional" and to repeal laws that are restrictive on citizens and businesses.

"I'm a Constitutionalist; I love the Constitution," Franiak said. "It has a method to alter it should it need to be altered We need to start following the rules rather than bypassing the platforms that have been set out for us."

Franiak also mentioned he is for school freedom and economic growth.

Who is Burt Whaley?

Website: whaley4mo138th.org

Who is he? Whaley is a 20-year United States Army Veteran and spent 28 years in education. He and his wife, Leah, have four children and 11 grandchildren. He is part of the Christian County Missouri Republican Assembly, the Stone County MRA, serves as a voting judge and has trained with the Stone County Sheriff Citizen's Academy. Whaley has also been involved in the church for 40 years, including ministry, building churches and homes in impoverished communities, volunteering as a youth leader, conducting youth camps and leadership trainings internationally.

“In the Missouri State House, and specifically for the 138th District, I intend to use my diverse background to advocate for legislation that promotes and protects life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," he said on his website.

More: What's on the ballot in Springfield and Greene County in the August primary elections

Like Franiak, he is also endorsed by the Missouri Right to Life PAC and has an AQ grade from the NRA.

Why is he running? “I want to see a Missouri that values life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for each citizen, by establishing safety for its communities and maintaining and recovering the foundational principles found in our nation’s original documents," Whaley said on his website.

What does he want to do if elected? Whaley wants to improve public safety for all Missourians, protect the First and Second amendments and address financial vulnerability. He also wants to empower parents to make educational decisions for their children, support Missouri's agricultural and local business and to secure legislation "for the sanctity of life."

Whaley also mentioned that people in his area would like to see Constitutional Sheriffs "to protect their Second Amendment rights and First Amendment rights."

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri primary election: House District 138 candidates run for seat