New Melle Mayor Richard West has officicially filed to run for the Missouri House of Representatives District 63 seat.

West, who filed on the opening day on Feb. 25, is the lone candidate to file for the seat as of Tuesday.

West hopes to succeed fellow Republican Bryan Spencer who is term limited and has held the seat for the past eight years.

District 63 covers eastern Warren County, including Wright City and Innsbrook, and western St. Charles County.

West, a Republican, is a retired police officer and served in Iraq as an international police advisor. He is a business owner and was first elected as the mayor of New Melle in 2014.

West spoke with The Record in 2019 when he announced his intention to run for state office.

“I know they need good, honest people to go up and serve in state politics,” West explained. He said he was encouraged by Spencer to run for the office.

West said his priority is to provide oversight of state spending and government regulations.

“The state’s doing well, but I still believe we spend more than we need to on things we don’t need to,” West said. “I’m very interested in small businesses, maintaining a working environment for them. ... We give a lot of welfare to the larger companies, but the little guys are left behind.”

West said he wants the state to do more to help brick-and-mortar businesses compete on an even playing field with online businesses.

West and his wife own Overstock Outlet in Wentzville.

West said his core values include protecting the right to life and the Second Amendment.

State Rep. Jeff Porter is seeking a second two-year term representing District 42, which encompasses western Warren County and all of Montgomery County.

The Republican is the lone candidate to file for the office as of Tuesday.

U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, a Republican, is one of seven candidates to file for his 3rd District seat. Other Republicans who have filed are Brandon Wilkinson, Adela Wisdom and Jeffrey Nowak. The remaining candidates are Democrats Megan Rezabek and Dennis Oglesby and Libertarian Leonard Steinman.

Candidate filing closes March 31 for county and state offices.