Marion County Presiding Commissioner Lyndon Bode is  centering his  Democratic bid for the Missouri 9th Congressional District around the theme of  “Rebuild America”.

   Bode traveled the district last week to promote his call for “the need to rebuild the infrastructure of this nation.”

Bode is among a number of Democrats and Republicans who have announced bids for the 9th District seat, since Republican incumbent Kenny Hulshof has decided to run for governor this fall instead of re-election.

The federal government ”needs to be more active in helping our local city and county governments rebuild our nations infrastructure,” Bode said in a statement sent out Wednesday. There’s a role for state governments to play as well, he added.

   “Our roads, bridges, sewer systems, water treatment facilities, courthouses, City Halls and other vital infrastructure needs to be improved all across this country,” he said. ”Instead of rebuilding a number of foreign countries, the time has come for us to be investing in our future and rebuilding America.”

Bode is emphasizing his experience during the past 14 years as Marion County Presiding Commissioner. He said that he led the efforts to build 30 new bridges, renovate both Marion County courthouses, build a new Marion County highway facility, and construct the new 3.2 mile Marion County Veterans Road project on the western side of Hannibal.