JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – State Senate candidate Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, pledged Tuesday to fill out all four years of his term if elected – a not-so-subtle jab at House Speaker Tim Jones, who is mulling a bid while also considering a statewide run in 2016.

“As your State Senator, it is my duty to remain focused on serving the people of the 26th District throughout my term, not using the Senate to run for higher office,” he said in a statement. “This seat is too important to be left without an elected member of the Senate as we saw earlier this year. That is why I pledge to the people to serve out my whole term in the Senate and I would encourage voters to hold any candidate for this office accountable to a full term pledge.”

Jones, a Eureka Republican, is considering joining the race if Sen. Brian Nieves, R-Washington, the office’s current incumbent were to decide to not seek reelection. Nieves has written Facebook posts indicating that he may not seek reelection this year, despite filing for the seat last month. If he doesn’t run, Jones has indicated he might.

Jones has also been clear about his intention to seek a statewide campaign in 2016. If he were to sign a similar Full Term Pledge, Jones could likely not run in 2016.