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Doug Ervin has left some big shoes to fill.

The term-limited state representative for House District 35 was very popular with voters and impossible to beat as long as he ran.

In the upcoming Aug. 3 primary, two candidates are vying for the Republican spot on the Nov. 2 general election ballot to run against Democrat Jim Baldwin for the 35th District seat.

T.J. Berry of Kearney and Noel Shull of Kansas City are two worthy candidates for the job. However, the voters must choose one candidate to compete in the general election. The Kearney Courier endorses Berry as the best man to continue to that race.

Words that come to mind to describe Berry are logical, personable and constituent-oriented. When Berry answers a question about the budget or a political issue, he takes time to explain his logic and always mentions the impact it will have on people.

While Berry has some strong ideas about how the state should be run, he is also adamant that he intends to vote with what the majority of the district wants.

Shull, who was involved with the Democratic party for about a decade before his days as a Republican began in the mid-1980s, has some good ideas he feels strongly about in regard to problems in the state but offers few solutions. His top priority is jobs, but he has no immediate solution and acknowledges while it will fix the budget in the long term, it won’t help the state’s revenue shortfalls next year.

Shull doesn’t see illegal immigration as an issue in Missouri. Berry thinks the state took steps to curb the problem two years ago but also thinks the state could takes steps similar to Arizona’s recent law — just not quite as strong.

Neither candidate has an answer for K-12 education funding, but both agree communicating with school districts is the key to figuring it out.

While Berry doesn’t have nearly as much leadership experience in organizations and political groups as Shull does, Berry has worked side-by-side with Ervin as his treasurer the past eight years. Berry is familiar with how Ervin does business — and that has been popular among voters here for years.

With two candidates who clearly want what is best for northern Clay County, Republican voters have a tough decision. But when it comes down it, Berry is the man for them.

district 35 boundaries

Missouri House District 35 includes all of Kearney north to the Clinton County line, west through Smithville to the Platte County line, south skirting the northern edge of Liberty and east stopping at Excelsior Springs.

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