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KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- Missouri St. Sen. and Lt. Governor candidate Brad Lager visited Kirksville Saturday to meet business owners. He also stopped by KTVO to discuss his campaign.

Lager is married and has two young children. He owns a car wash, is a developer, and also operates a small farm, where he raises cattle. He also works for Cerner Corporation and he is currently serving as State Senator for Missouri's District 12, which covers northwestern Missouri.

Lager is touting himself as the real conservative and said state government has grown out of control in the areas of entitlement spending through Medicaid and tax credits. He said if Missouri wants to change the way government works, then it's time to change the leaders of the state.

Lager is going up against incumbent Lt. Governor Peter Kinder, (R), who is seeking his third term, along with two other Republican candidates and eight Democratic candidates.

An attack ad released July 20 by Peter Kinder's campaign accuses Lager of benefiting from the Affordable Care Act due to his employment with Cerner Corporation, a health technology firm. Lager has been outspoken about the state of Missouri opting to get out of "Obama Care". He said Kinder's ad is spreading false information.

"Now I don't get to choose where Cerner's clients get their money," said Senator Lager, (R)- Savannah.  "Because right now, hospitals get part of their money from the Federal government. But to say that I'm a lobbyist or to say that I benefit, that I am personally benefiting or support Obama Care because of that is a bold face lie and Peter Kinder knows that."

In Lager's campaign ads, he addresses the fact that Peter Kinder spent $54,000 of the taxpayer's money on personal items such as fancy hotel rooms and then didn't pay it back until a newspaper investigation revealed it. 

Lager said his campaign has raised around $2 million. Lager and Peter Kinder will face off in the Aug. 7 Primary. On the democratic side, polls indicate that former state auditor Susan Montee and St. Rep. Sarah Lampee are in the lead.