The Republican candidate for the 25th House District seat has cited his experience as an intelligence officer with the United States Navy Reserve among his qualifications for elective office, but that role is summoning Ryan Asbridge from the campaign trail.

Ashbridge

Asbridge, 31, of Columbia has been activated for duty, a move that will cause him to spend the rest of the election cycle out of the country. He said the date and destination of his departure are classified, but he confirmed that once he departs he will not return until after Nov. 4.

Asbridge was serving overseas with the Navy during the Republican primary, but he was unopposed.

He said he will continue his campaign against Democrat Mary Still with the help of volunteers, family and friends.

"It’s going to have to continue with the help of supporters," Asbridge said. "Basically, I will take the work that I would have been doing as a candidate as much as possible," and "it’ll be done by my friends who have been helping me along."

Still said she doesn’t think Asbridge’s change in status will alter the way she runs her campaign, which she termed as "aggressive."

"I certainly think I speak for all of Columbia in saying that we respect his service," Still said. "And I wish him a speedy and safe return."

It is not unprecedented for candidates to be abroad during elections. State Rep. Jason Brown, R-Platte County, was serving with the Army Reserve in Iraq during the 2006 election season.

Brown suffered a bullet wound from a sniper but made a full recovery. He also won re-election.

House Majority Leader Steve Tilley, R-Perryville, the chairman of the House Republican Campaign Committee, said the GOP is still strongly supportive of Asbridge’s candidacy.

"Ryan’s an outstanding candidate and a great guy," Tilley said, adding that House Republicans have no intention of finding another candidate.

Tilley said Asbridge’s going on active duty could be positive for his candidacy in the traditionally Democratic-leaning district. "It’s a difficult situation, but I think it reminds people what a quality person Ryan is," he said.

Asked whether being abroad during the campaign would put a crimp in his chances against Still, Asbridge acknowledged that it would be "naïve to think it wouldn’t put me at some level of disadvantage."

"It doesn’t give me as much opportunity to have as much time face to face with voters in the district," he said. "But what it doesn’t change is who I am as a person. It doesn’t change what I stand for. It doesn’t change what my campaign is about."

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