Missouri GOP calls for Joplin legislative candidate to withdraw after arrest

Thomas Ross, the Republican nominee for Missouri’s 161st House District, is being held without bond in the Joplin City Jail after being arrested Wednesday on an “unspecified warrant,” according to the city’s public safety portal.

Missouri Republican Party Chairman Peter Kinder called on Ross to “immediately withdraw his candidacy” in a social media statement Wednesday. Kinder cited the “serious and deeply troubling” circumstances of his arrest and said the people of the district, which covers most of Joplin, “deserve a nominee who can devote his full attention to earning their trust and representing their interests.”

The Jasper County Republican Central Committee joined Kinder in calling for Ross’ withdrawal, indicating in a social media statement that “the circumstances are serious and raise significant concerns” for voters.

Under state law, Ross has until Sept. 8 — the eighth Tuesday before the election — to withdraw. The law says a court order necessary to remove a candidate’s name from the ballot “shall be freely given upon application by the candidate.”

Staff with the Joplin Police Department and the City of Joplin said they were unable to share additional information about the charges Ross faces.

Candice Jamoles, a public affairs specialist for U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price of the Western District of Missouri, told The Independent Wednesday morning that while she knew of the arrest, she could neither confirm nor deny the existence of a federal investigation. 

Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney Theresa Kenney is out of the office this week, according to a staff member reached by The Independent Wednesday afternoon.

Ross defeated his opponent in the Aug. 4 Republican primary, Louise Secker, by only 32 votes. He had unsuccessfully challenged Republican state Rep. Lane Roberts for the seat in 2022 and 2024.

Roberts, who is term-limited, endorsed Secker as his successor, describing her in a July 9 social media post as “an honorable person who tells the whole truth, not half the truth, or a version of the truth.” 

Secker also substantially outraised Ross. Campaign finance filings show she had received $96,974 in contributions as of July 27, while Ross’ committee reported $34,784 in receipts. Ross had loaned his campaign $14,000.

Neither Secker nor Roberts responded to requests for comment from The Independent.

Democratic nominee Aaron Metzger told The Independent his “thoughts are with (Ross’) family during this devastating time.”

“This doesn’t change my belief that the people of Joplin deserve real representation, and I will continue my campaign delivering that message,” Metzger said.

Ben Peters, director of communications for the Missouri House, told The Independent in an emailed statement that “it would be inappropriate to comment on any pending legal matter involving a candidate for office.”

“The House trusts the legal process,” Peters wrote, “and will continue to monitor the situation while law enforcement and the courts handle the matter accordingly.”

Ross is not the first Republican legislative candidate in recent years to face calls to withdraw amid serious allegations. 

In 2020, Rick Roeber of Lee’s Summit refused bipartisan calls to end his campaign after his adult children accused him of physical and sexual abuse. The allegations became public weeks before the November election, and Roeber denied them and went on to win by about 300 votes. 

After he took office, a House Ethics Committee investigation found the allegations credible and recommended his expulsion. The House voted 153-0 in April 2021 to remove him from office.

Another southwest Missouri Republican, Tricia Derges of Nixa, resisted calls to resign after she was indicted on 20 federal felony counts in February 2021, shortly after taking office. House Republican leaders stripped Derges of her committee assignments, expelled her from the GOP caucus and called on her to step down, but she remained in office while the case proceeded. 

She resigned in July 2022 after a federal jury convicted her of 22 counts, including wire fraud, illegally distributing controlled substances and making false statements to investigators. She was sentenced in 2023 to six years and three months in federal prison and was moved to a halfway house in August.