Quick Facts
Biography
Lindell Shumake (born December 24, 1949) is a Republican member of the Missouri House of Representatives. Shumake first represented the 6th District, encompassing all or portions of Marion and Ralls counties in northeast Missouri. In November 2012, he was elected to serve the newly designated 5th Missouri House district.
Personal history
Lindell F. Shumake was born in St. Louis, Missouri and raised in Hannibal, Missouri. After graduation from Hannibal High School in 1968 he served in the U.S. Army, including a one-year tour during the Vietnam War. Following his military service Shumake attended Hannibal-LaGrange College, earning an associate degree in 1974, and a bachelor's degree in Sociology in 1976 from Quincy College. Lindell Shumake worked for the Missouri Division of Family Services as a caseworker beginning in 1977 and remain with the agency until 1997. When the General Assembly is not in session Shumate runs two small businesses in the Hannibal area as well as serving as a chaplain at Hannibal Regional Hospital. He was ordained as a minister in 1974. Shumake married his wife Lynda in 1975 and they have one daughter.
Political history
Lindell Shumake first ran for the 10th District Missouri House seat in 1998 but was defeated by Robert Clayton. His 2010 bid proved more successful as he beat Democrat Carl Thompson of Monroe City with fifty-seven percent of the vote.
Due to Missouri House redistricting following the 2010 U.S. Census new boundaries were created for the Missouri House 6th. Shumake ran for the newly created 5th Missouri House district in 2012, where he defeated Democrat Tom Shively, who had represented the 8th under its previous boundaries. Shumake assumed the new district in January, 2013.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Lindell Shumake | 3,546 | 36.1 | ||
| Democratic | Robert Clayton | 6,279 | 63.9 | Winner | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Lindell Shumake | 6,564 | 57.3 | Winner | |
| Democratic | Carl Thompson | 4,892 | 42.7 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Lindell Shumake | 9,093 | 56 | Winner | |
| Democratic | Tom Shively | 7,140 | 44 | ||
Legislative assignments
Mr. Shumake served on the following House committees during the 96th General Assembly:
- Agri-Business
- Elementary and Secondary Education
- Small Business
- Tax Reform
Birther movement
Representative Shumake was a co-sponsor of Missouri HB283, which requires proof of identity and U.S. citizenship for all President and Vice-President candidates. This bill mirrors efforts in other states by those who question the birthplace and citizenship of President Barack Obama, thus the legitimacy of his election, commonly referred to as Birthers.