COLUMBIA, MO. (AP) -- Being in the minority is nothing new for Blaine Luetkemeyer, Missouri's newest congressman.
The conservative Republican businessman from Miller County joined 53 new House members and nine new senators who were sworn in Tuesday in the 111th Congress. He is the state's only new addition.
Luetkemeyer said he has no reservations about working with a Democratic-controlled Congress. He faced a similar situation as a state lawmaker in Jefferson City from 1999 to 2005.
Shortly before taking the oath of office, Leutkemeyer said "If you want to get something done, you find those people who can support you and line up support as you go along."
Luetkemeyer defeated Democrat Judy Baker for the 9th District House seat left open by Republican Kenny Hulshof's unsuccessful bid for Missouri governor. An insurance company owner and bank executive in St. Elizabeth, Leutkemeyer poured $1.5 million of his own money into the race.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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