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House Republicans and Democrats welcome Independent with open arms

April 17, 1997
By: Mary D. Jackson
State Capital Bureau

House Republicans and Democrats have welcomed the only independent representative with open arms. But will the hospitality pay off for either party? Mary Jackson has more from the State Capitol.

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Representative Denny Meredith is the newly-elected member to the Missouri House of Representatives.

Meredith has received plenty of attention for running as an independent for an unexpired term in southeast Missouri.

Since America has and continues to operate under a two-party system, there is a consensus among Missouri Republicans and Democrats that he will align with one of the parties.

But according to Meredith, he will continue to be an independent and his allegiance will be to the people in the "bootheel" district.

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Contents: "I will be voting for those people and for what they want. That will be, quite often, conservative but in certain problems that we have down there it may be considered as liberal as well. So, it's gonna be whatever is required to support us."

But House Republican Leader Mark Richardson said the republicans are not trying to convince Meredith to join their side.

However, Richardson said Meredith's decision to remain independent is a plus for Republicans.

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Contents: If we've got an opportunity that we can convince someone that our ideas are better without having to worry about the pressures from within the other party, then it's always to our advantage.

Meredith said he is conservative and an independent-thinker.

Like GOP leader Richardson, Democratic leader Gracia Backer said Democrats aren't pressuring Meredith to support the democratic leadership.

However, Backer said Meredith has to make a decision.

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Contents: If in fact he is an independent thinker, he's going to have to decide on which side he will have to align with."

Backer said no representative strictly abides by their parties philosophy, but the two-party system serves its purpose.

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Contents: To say that you're always an independent is kind of an oxymoron. There's really not an independent person out here. You're always going to align one way or another and that will be along some party's lines.

Despite so much attention, Meredith continues to straddle the fence.

From the State Capitol, I'm Mary Jackson.