DETERMINATION - SEMO Times

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Determination: Billington seeks state rep nod
Laura Isaacs
SEMO TIMES
The people of 154 th District know
Hardy Billington.
As the owner of a heating and cooling
business, Billington made their
homes and businesses comfortable.
As president of the board of education
member, he’s saved the taxpayers more
than one million dollars. He has representative
them at national political conventions
and he was the man behind
President Bush’s record-setting 2004
visit. He served our
country as a member
of the National Guard.
He’s an active member
at his church in Poplar
Bluff and a family man
with three daughters
and five grandchildren.
The 53-year Butler
County resident has
also served as a member
of the Republican
State Committee, as
vice chairman of the
Republican Central
Committee, as chairman
of the 154 th Legislative
District Committee
and is on two
advisory boards in the
city of Poplar Bluff.
And now he’s seeking
to stand for the people he knows
so well in Jefferson City as state representative.
And despite his vast achievements
and election aspirations, Billington remains
modest.
“I don’t define myself by these successes,”
he said.
Based on his actions and his unassuming,
humble demeanor, Billington
seems to define himself by his
loyalty to his country, his conservative
Republican ideals and his desire
to help people.
“I went to boot camp at Fort Leonard
Wood. Anytime someone goes to
boot camp, it changes their life,” Billington
said. “But the experience I
had changed my pride in my country
to a desire to
fight for it.”
D e s p i t e
his unpret
e n t i o u s
a p p r o a c h ,
B i l l i n g t o n
is widely
r e c o g n i z e d
and lauded
for his work
brining President
George
W. Bush to
Poplar Bluff
during his
2004 campaign.Nearly
30,000
p e o p l e
showed up to
see the president
and Billington said the experience
changed his life a great deal.
“By coming here, President Bush
showed he really cared for people,”
Billington said. “And President Bush
was really impressed by the people
here.”
After the event, Billington and
his wife visited to the White House
to meet the president, and have since
received two more invitations from
Bushes.
During the 2008 presidential campaign,
Billington ran the local Republican
Headquarters. His work there
helped him garner a spot serve as a delegate
at the 2008 Republican National
Convention in Minnesota and helped
John McCain win Butler County. And
despite the outcome of the 2008 elec-
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tion, Billington’s patriotism still influences
him.
“We need to support the president,
but the country is going in the wrong
direction,” Billington said. “Voters
have a lot of buyers’ remorse.”
“As Republicans, we need to
take back the committee and the
house,” Billington said. For more
information about Hardy Billington
and his campaign, visit
www.hardybillington.com.
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