The Star’s recommendations: Rory Rowland and Daron McGee for open Missouri House seats

Voters in Kansas City and Independence will have a chance to fill two vacant Missouri House seats on Tuesday. A low-profile Kansas City Public Schools board seat is also on the ballot.

The two legislative races will help determine the Kansas City delegation’s effectiveness in Jefferson City. And although Republicans will continue to hold a huge majority of seats in the House, the results could affect the House’s ability to override vetoes by Gov. Jay Nixon.

The candidates were chosen by party committees and will serve through 2016. The seats will come up for election next year as part of the regular legislative cycle.

District 29: Two business owners are contesting this seat representing much of central Independence and parts of southeast Kansas City. It became vacant when Republican Noel Torpey resigned soon after being re-elected in 2014.

Democrat Rory Rowland, a consultant for financial companies, brings an abundance of energy to the race that would serve constituents well. He is the choice over Republican Brian DeMoss, who owns a security alarm service in Raytown.

Rowland has keyed in on the need to improve Missouri’s roads and bridges as a centerpiece of his campaign. That’s an essential issue, and Rowland’s financial expertise should help with budget priorities. He also wants to work on a more equitable school funding formula. He would be a reliable vote for expanding Medicaid eligibility.

DeMoss has an admirable resume as a small business owner and foster parent, but Rowland is the more dynamic candidate. Richard W. McKie is also running on the Constitution Party ticket.

District 36: Democrat Daron McGee is by far the best candidate in a field of four to replace Kevin McManus, a Democrat who departed the state legislature after being elected to the Kansas City Council.

McGee, who works as a program administrator for Jackson County’s COMBAT program, is well-versed in the issues of this diverse south Kansas City district and has good ideas for solving problems. He would be a strong supporter of the area’s public school districts and a champion for legislation to erase housing blight. Along with his job and a full agenda of community activities, he is completing a graduate degree at the University of Missouri.

Republican Nola Wood, who has run unsuccessfully for a legislative seat three times before, is conversant in boilerplate GOP issues like securing the border against immigrants and reducing waste in government. But this district’s concerns are local, and McGee is the better fit.

Mary Ann Drape, a lawyer, is running as an independent candidate. Timothy E. Peterman is on the ballot as a libertarian.

Kansas City Public Schools, Sub-District 2: Two names will appear on the ballot. However, Lindsay Mathews suspended her campaign, leaving Matthew Oates as the only active candidate. The election is to replace Gunnar Hand, who left earlier this year to work in Los Angeles. The term runs until 2019.

Oates, an electrical engineer, is a 2003 Paseo Academy graduate. He works for Burns & McDonnell Engineering Inc. His priorities are full accreditation for the district and choosing a superintendent who will lead the schools forward. He favors expansion of early childhood education and partnering with high-performing charter schools such as Academie Lafayette.

This story was originally published October 27, 2015 at 4:58 PM.