EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – Rep. Jim Neely is a conservative Republican physician running to replace the party’s top state officeholder, Gov. Mike Parson. Neely is term-limited out of the state House at the end of the year. His district includes Excelsior Springs. He is the only Republican near the Kansas City area who is running for governor. Parson started the year by raising more than $500,000, but how much in “dark money” he will get from political action committees is undetermied. One report states he has more than $5 mil-lion at his disposal from a single group. Neely’s July Missouri Ethics Commission report shows he raised about $285,000. Whether the David vs. Goliath effort works for Neely is up to voters, but conservatives are taking note of his candidacy. Keep Missouri Open and other groups opposed to Parson’s COVID-19 lockdown gave their endorsement to Neely. “Dr. Neely led the effort to reopen Missouri during Governor Parson’s lockdown and has vowed to implement a statewide…