GOP governor candidates make pitch at Poplar Bluff forum

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Five Republican gubernatorial candidates gathered in Poplar Bluff on Saturday night to discuss their strategies to take back the governor's mansion.

It was the first time so far in the 2016 gubernatorial race that all five Republican candidates shared the same stage, and each had their respective cadres of supporters in the crowd of about 300 people.

In his introductory address, organizer and Butler County Republican Central Committee chairman Eddy Justice remarked on the crowd's size.

"Conservatism is alive and well in Butler County," he said.

The candidates' opening remarks allowed them to highlight their strengths and priorities.

Catherine Hanaway listens as fellow Missouri gubernatorial candidate Roy Asbury speaks during a candidates' forum Saturday night in Poplar Bluff, Mo. (Tyler Graef)

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, the most recognizable face on stage, played up his experience, from his days on U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson's Washington, D.C., staff in the early 1980s to his 12 years in the Missouri Senate to his time as lieutenant governor. His experience, he said, would help the Republicans become "the party of Lincoln" by winning over a more racially and socioeconomically diverse base.

Kinder, a Cape Girardeau native who announced his candidacy in Ferguson, Missouri, said he would, "compete for votes that Republicans don't usually even ask for."

Catherine Hanaway, the first and only female speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives, pointed to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Obamacare" and Common Core regulations as prime examples of federal overreach hindering the state. She said Jefferson City needed to be similarly shaped up.

"Raising two kids, we worry," she said, "worry about the future. ... Liberal policies coming out of Jefferson City are literally driving jobs out of the state."

Missouri state Sen. Bob Dixon emphasized not only his political credentials, but his ability to bridge gaps on divisive issues to enact conservative change without stymieing government operations.

Bob Dixon, right, listens as fellow Missouri gubernatorial candidate John Brunner speaks during a candidates' forum Saturday night in Poplar Bluff, Mo. (Tyler Graef)

"I will work with anyone to better our state," he said.

Businessman John Brunner emphasized his business acumen and leadership skills rather than political experience. Brunner, who served in the Marine Corps and revived his grandfather's failing consumer products business in Missouri, declared his commitment to the U.S. Constitution and said it's time for the state to move forward.

Ray Asbury, the former deputy director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, said he, too, is a constitutional conservative and advocated for free-market principles, but said no progress is possible without a return to God and the moral principles he said have held the country together since its inception.

The first question posed by moderator Mitch Davis asked candidates how they would have handled the situation in Ferguson, Missouri, during the unrest in the wake of the shooting death of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown last summer.

Brunner and Asbury said they would have acted swifter and more decisively than Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon.

"Lead, follow or get out of the way," Brunner said, adding his philosophy would have been to lead, something he said Nixon failed to do. Accountability in the chain of command and clearly articulated rules of engagement, he said, were key areas where he would have outperformed Nixon.

Asbury said he would have immediately called in the National Guard.

"We need to be boots on the ground in those situations," he said.

Kinder and Dixon advocated a softer touch, based less on show of force and more on communication.

"I was there with Dr. Ben Carson yesterday," Kinder said, where the Republican presidential candidate spoke and prayed with community leaders to facilitate cooperation.

Dixon said he went to Ferguson during the protests, but not in his capacity as senator. He said his three conditions for going were he did no interviews there, he didn't protest and made sure to not be introduced as a senator.

"Talking to people is the first thing we have to do," he said. "In discussing things, I learned a lot about their needs."

Hanaway said she would have instituted a "reasonable curfew of 9 p.m.," instead of the midnight curfew enforced by Nixon, whom she said "embarrassed our state." She also advocated for allowing police to more effectively use intelligence reports to drive "the out-of-state thugs" out of the area.

The next topic was that of ethics in Missouri's Capitol. The ethics of Missouri's GOP leadership has been scrutinized several times in the past year, including after the resignation of Speaker of the House John Diehl, who sent inappropriate texts to an intern, and the suicide of state auditor Tom Schweich amid rumors of other party members used anti-Semitic campaign tactics against him.

Although Davis and Hanaway admitted there are problems in the Capitol's ethical climate, they shied away from advocating ethics legislation, insisting instead the solution is to elect more politicians who are morally sound.

Hanaway, however, did call for gift limitations for lobbyists.

The remaining candidates called for more legislation directly regarding political ethics.

Kinder denounced the "revolving door" in Jefferson City that allows legislators to immediately become lobbyists, and Asbury said the perception politicians are being bought in Jefferson City is eroding the public's trust in government.

"Government is put in place to restrain evil," he said.

When asked what the most pressing issue facing Missouri, the candidates differed in their responses slightly, but mainly focused on reviving the economy.

Kinder called the state's business climate "lagging" and vowed to reduce tax burdens on job creators. Hanaway agreed, but focused on growing the work force by revisiting the welfare system "so that we have more people pulling the wagon and fewer people riding in it."

Asbury promised to defund Planned Parenthood and push for tort reform, and Brunner -- referring to Washington overseers -- promised to "kick these regulators back across the Potomac."

Dixon said regulatory reform, litigation reform, taxation reform and the passage of right-to-work are necessary "to get the state boot off the neck of business."

The candidates then made their case for why they would be preferable in the general election to likely Democratic nominee Chris Koster.

"The only way we're going to beat Chris Koster is by having a candidate that is so much better, so different," Brunner said. "A true CEO."

"Chris Koster is all politician and no leadership," Dixon told the crowd. "I want to offer statesmanship."

Hanaway argued she alone has the experience, vision and team to match Koster.

Kinder said his "capacity to actually win the election" is evidenced in his being the only one onstage to have previously won a statewide election.

Asbury said more than experience, leadership is needed, and he has a vision for Missouri.

tgraef@semissourian.com

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