U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) speaks to the Saline County Democrats Club Thursday, Sept. 4, at the Marshall Senior Center. Skelton will face Republican challenger Jeff Parnell in the November election. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Fortune smiled upon the Saline County Democrat Club Thursday, Sept. 4. Scheduled speaker Sam Page, candidate for lieutenant governor, was unable to attend because of bad weather, but U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., did appear.

Local Democrats love hearing from the long-time 4th District representative and gave him a standing ovation before state Rep. Joe Aull (D-Marshall) could even begin his introduction.

Before Skelton spoke, club members heard from Joe Sadeghi of Marshall, who is challenging state Sen. Bill Stouffer for the 21st District senate seat in November.

Joe Sadeghi of Marshall addresses the Saline County Democrats Club Thursday, Sept. 4. Sadeghi is challenging state Sen. Bill Stouffer for the 21st District senate seat. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Sadeghi talked about what he sees as an unnecessary discrepancy between the nation's wealth and the way it takes care of its people, saying what the country needs is better management of resources.

Sadeghi also introduced the subject of voting, urging club members to help get more people to the polls.

Skelton underscored that point, noting that when he ran for state senate early in his career he won by "a landslide" of only a little more than 300 votes.

If a few votes had gone the other way in each precinct, the result could have been different, he said.

"Elections often turn on just a few votes," Skelton said. "Who votes? Who stays at home? It makes a difference."

The club also elected a new slate of officers by acclamation, naming Joe Clements of Miami as president. Clements said he helped found the club 29 years ago.

The rest of the slate includes John Swisher, vice president; Mark McRoberts, corresponding secretary; Debbie Hines, recording secretary; Mildred Gilliam, treasurer; and Bernadette Cleary, 50/50 drawing coordinator.