Republican Vernetti says he’ll challenge incumbent Lake of the Ozarks state representative
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Camden County businessman said Monday that he will seek to unseat an incumbent in the Missouri House.
Jeff Vernetti, the general manager of Ballparks National, said he will run in the 123rd House District. That will likely put him up against incumbent Lisa Thomas, who has formed a committee and raised money for the August 2024 Republican primary election.
Vernetti said Monday that he has not yet registered a committee with the Missouri Ethics Commission but he plans to do so before filing for the election opens next year.
Vernetti said in a release Monday that he brought the Ballparks National sports complex to Camden County, along with LOZ Sports Training in Osage Beach. Vernetti says he had a career in St. Louis radio before moving to the Lake of the Ozarks area.
This summer, his family opened Vernetti's Italian Grocer in Camdenton. Vernetti says his wife is a teacher at the School of the Osage.
Vernetti has no elected office experience but he sits on several community boards and is a member of the Camden County Republican Club, according to his release.
Thomas, who was first elected in 2020, has raised more than $3,000 for the election, according to her October quarterly finance report.
The 123rd House District covers most of Camden County.
