Attorney General hopefuls Gibbons, Koster debate at MU

Michael Gibbons, Chris Koster argue experience.

By Kelsey Proud

Published Sept. 11, 2008

Missouri attorney general hopefuls Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons and Sen. Chris Koster went head-to-head in a debate sponsored by the Missouri Press Association at MU on Thursday.

The two candidates discussed varying policy issues, but the two candidates found few points of contention. However, the personal issue of experience was a clear point of argument.

Koster, D-Harrisonville, stressed his experience as former Cass County Prosecutor as the basis for his candidacy.

"I believe that if you want to be the top law enforcement officer in the state of Missouri, that it's helpful if you know something about law enforcement," Koster said in his opening statement. "I am the only candidate in this race who has walked the homicide crime scenes, overseen the forensic investigations, interrogated the killers, trained the young lawyers and made the closing arguments from our rural courtrooms all the way to our Supreme Court."

Leadership and managerial skills are what Gibbons, R-Kirkwood, insisted would prove most important.

"There's 215 lawyers that work in the attorney general's office, and about 200 other employees, covering a whole host of areas, and I believe that you need somebody as the attorney general who has the experience and leadership in running larger entities, dealing with a variety of interests, effectively managing people and activities toward success so that we can do the best job on behalf of the people of Missouri," Gibbons said.

Policy issues such as press freedom and illegal immigration divided the candidates, but the issue of lowering the drinking age was something about which both men felt strongly, and similarly.

"I would be opposed to lowering the drinking age from 21," Koster said. "I can't think of anything else to say about it."

Gibbons went into a bit more detail about why he is opposed to a drinking age change.

"Twenty-one, is it arbitrary?" Gibbons said. "Sure, not everybody physiologically advances at the same rate, but you're more likely than not to be adult enough or physiologically advanced enough and mature enough to be able to consume alcohol without causing a lifelong series of problems."

After the debate, both candidates' campaigns said they were pleased with the performance of their candidate.

Koster spokesman Danny Kanner said he felt the debate was a good chance for Missourians to see Koster in action.

"I think people got to see Chris' command of the issues and what they want to see as the next attorney general," Kanner said.

Caleb Jones, Gibbons' campaign manager, said he thinks attendees got to hear Gibbons' message and see his personal virtues.

"I hope that the people saw that Mike Gibbons is a man of integrity," Jones said. "He knows the issues surrounding the attorney general's office, and he's going to be tough on any problems the attorney general has to face."