By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

While many thought State Senator Rob Mayer’s remarks at the Stoddard County Lincoln Day Banquet would be a farewell of sorts. Yet after serving for 12 years in the Missouri General Assembly, he still had a few surprises up his sleeve.

Mayer closed his keynote remarks by announcing he would run this fall for another office, but this time a bit closer to home. Mayer announced he would be seeing a judgeship, serving in Stoddard and Dunklin counties.

“I am looking forward to coming home to Stoddard County in a few short months,” he said. “As we all know, there’s no place like home. Southeast Missouri is my home and I look forward to the next chapter of my life right here at home along with you. So I officially announce to you my candidacy for judge of the 35th judicial district in Stoddard and Dunklin counties. If elected I promise to provide fair and impartial justice to the citizens I serve.”

Mayer received a standing ovation from the crowd on his announcement.

“When I went to Jefferson City there were some principles that I wanted to live by,” he said. Mayer then quoted the late President Ronald Reagan: “Let us be sure that those that come after us will say of us in our time that we did everything that could be done. We have finished the race, we kept them free, we kept the faith.”

“That is what we have done the last 12 years. I look forward to serving you again,” he concluded.

Mayer noted that throughout his career as legislator he has been able to work with a number of leaders, including U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and members of her staff.

Mayer was first elected in 2000 to the Missouri House of Representatives. He was elected to the Missouri Senate in 2004, and was selected as the Missouri Senate Leader in 2011. Mayer represents Stoddard, Butler, Dunklin, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley and Wayne counties in the Senate.

Mayer is a fourth-generation resident of Stoddard County, a graduate of Dexter High School. He received his undergraduate degree from Southeast Missouri State University and his juris doctorate from the University of Missouri – Kansas City.

He is married to his high school sweetheart, Nancy, and they have three sons – Jason, Dustin and Daniel.