Son of MU prof. launches campaign

Stephen Webber will run for Columbia’s 23rd district seat.

By Andrew Denney
March 14, 2008

District 23 Democratic candidate Stephen Webber speaks to supporters on Thursday evening at Shakespeare’s Pizza. At this time last year, Webber was serving in the U.S. Armed Forces in Iraq.

While on his second tour in Iraq about one year ago, Stephen Webber, a Democratic candidate for the Missouri 23rd district House seat, said he never thought he would be back in Columbia, eating at Shakespeare’s Pizza surrounded by family and friends and running for public office.

“I didn’t know if I would be alive and in Columbia again,” Webber said at his campaign-launching event on Thursday at Shakespeare’s Pizza’s West Broadway location, where he was not without friends, family or pizza.

Stephen Webber, the son of MU political science professor David Webber and MU School of Business adviser Barbara Schneider, announced earlier this year he would run for the seat, which is being vacated by state Rep. Jeff Harris, D-Columbia, who is running for Missouri Attorney General.

Stephen Webber is a two-time Iraq war veteran who served in the Marine Corps and has an economics degree from Saint Louis University. He works as an aide for U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., and worked on campaigns for a number of Democrats in Missouri statewide offices, including state Sen. Chuck Graham, D-Columbia; state Sen. Joan Bray, D-St. Louis; and Harris.

At the event, Webber outlined some major points to his platform, including increasing support for MU.

“The University of Missouri is not just the economic driver of Columbia, it’s the economic driver of the state,” he said.

Webber also said he would work to protect the academic freedom of MU students and professors. On his Web site, he stated the Missouri General Assembly through “financial clout” has limited the academic freedom of students and professors.

“This state is only going to go as far as the university’s research takes us,” he said.

Webber, a 2001 Hickman High School graduate, said he would work to improve K-12 public schools.

“What the public school system does for us in this country cannot be measured with a math test and a science test,” Webber said.

Webber also discussed health care, which he said he sees as a “moral issue.” He said he would like to remove cuts to Missouri’s Medicaid program, which were put into place by Gov. Matt Blunt.

He also discussed the fact that he is running for the seat at a young age, but he said Harris also began at a young age.

“He started somewhere, too,” Webber said. “Six years later, everyone agrees he’s done a good job.”

Hickman High School assistant principal Greg Grupe, attended the event and said he knew Stephen Webber while Webber was a student there.

Grupe said Webber has a “personality that shines.”

“Like Claire McCaskill, also a product of Hickman, Stephen is poised, authentic, genuine and trustworthy,” Grupe said.

Schneider, who was also in attendance, said Webber is an “outstanding leader,” which she said is his biggest strength as a candidate.

“He’s so passionate about public service,” Schneider said.

Columbia resident Cande Iveson is the only other candidate in the Democratic primary for the seat. No Republicans have filed yet for the seat.

Share on Facebook

Son of MU prof. launches campaign

More March 14, 2008 Outlook Stories

Most recent Outlook Stories