Missouri Republican Vicky Hartzler, a former state representative who was active in her state’s effort to ban same-sex marriage, appears to be preparing a 2010 campaign against veteran Democratic Rep. Ike Skelton.

Vicky Hartzler

Hartzler has filed a statement of candidacy and a statement of organization with the Federal Election Commission to initiate a campaign in the 4th District, a conservative-leaning area of western and central Missouri that takes in Jefferson City, some suburbs of Kansas City and also significant rural territory.

Hartzler, who couldn’t be reached for comment Thursday, has a background in education and served in the state House from 1995 through 2000. She was a spokeswoman for an organization that promoted a 2004 state constitutional amendment, overwhelmingly passed by voters , that banned same-sex marriage.