Missouri’s lieutenant governor race has become an ugly one
Republican incumbent Peter Kinder speaks of the success of the Tour of Missouri race this week while Democratic nominee Sam Page and Libertarian nominee Teddy Fleck listen on during a debate between the lieutenant governor candidates on Friday at the Stoney Creek Inn in Columbia. The debate, mainly between Kinder and Page, centered on issues ranging from tourism to health care.
A day after the state’s gubernatorial candidates engaged in a debate on the MU campus, three nominees for lieutenant governor met up for a forum at Columbia’s Stony Creek Inn, just a few miles down the road.
Many statements made by incumbent Republican lieutenant governor Peter Kinder and Democratic nominee Sam Page on Friday morning were aimed at each other, with the candidates lobbing attacks abbout voting records, bringing up the “Sunshine Law” and debating on health care. Along with Libertarian candidate Teddy Fleck, the nominees took turn answering questions posed by mediator David Lieb of the Associated Press and by several members of the audience.
Outside of their definitions of the lieutenant governor’s role, Kinder and Page found little common ground.
In his opening statement, Kinder, the second lieutenant governor in Missouri’s history to take on the position as a full time job, harped on this fact and covered some of the high points of his time in office, but also quickly went on the offensive.
Page went over the role of the lieutenant governor and the general goals of his campaign.
“Most Missourians are upset that we have this high unemployment rate and about many other things,” said Page, who’s worked as a medical doctor for 12 years while serving as a city council member for four years and a state representative for six. “This race is going to be about whether or not people want to change course.”
The candidates first discussed a bill to increase Missouri’s sales tax 1/8 of a cent to give more money to the Veterans’ Association. Both Kinder and Fleck voiced their opposition to a tax increase, while Page said he supported the bill.
The forum became more heated when a member of the audience brought up the subject of the Sunshine Law, a law requiring public institutions — including elected officials — to share records, such as emails, with the public. The candidates, who have both tried to invoke the rule on their opponent throughout the course of the race, voiced conflicting interpretations of the law.
“Sam Page is trying to use the Sunshine Law as a sword against others and as a shield when it’s used on him,” Kinder said.
Page defended himself and his decision to withhold a letter Kinder had called on him to release.
“The letter is identical to one I made public years ago, except addressed to a different name,” Page said.
The candidates also discussed the financial support of professional sports teams in Missouri. Kinder praised the transformation of an unused Kansas City shopping mall into a new stadium for the city’s soccer team and new office buildings, saying the project would bring in tourism dollars.
“Living in Springfield, I shouldn’t have to pay for a sports stadium in Kansas City,” Page said.
Near the end of the debate, Page said he’s running for lieutenant governor for the same reason he became a doctor, “to help people.” He said the theme of his campaign was undoubtedly increased access to health care in Missouri.
Kinder finished by discussing the success of the Senior Meals program and the increase in tourism in Missouri.