Greitens makes campaign stop in Jackson

Former Navy SEAL Eric Greitens may be in a crowded field as a Republican running for Missouri governor in 2016, but he has no problem telling people how he stands out from that crowd.

For starters, Greitens says he considers his bid for the state's highest office a mission, rather than a campaign.

As he explained to a small crowd gathered to hear him speak Tuesday afternoon at the Kimbeland Country Club in Jackson, much of his past work has been the result of focusing on a mission or helping people find one of their own. That mind-set was part of the inspiration behind The Mission Continues, the not-for-profit group he founded following his military service to help veterans in post-military transition.

It's the same attitude Greitens said he plans to apply to state operations as governor, championing better results and more accountability from those handling taxpayer dollars.

"I believe we should be able to ask of every agency of government and every line item in the budget a very simple question: What is your mission? What results did you produce for the money that you've spent?" he said.

"Career politicians," lobbyists and special interests have created a number of problems in Jefferson City, according to Greitens. He called for term limits in all state offices, a stop to the revolving door between lawmaking and lobbying, and a ban on lobbyist gifts to lawmakers. Besides promising to stand up to special interests, he promised to never engage in lobbying himself.

Greitens also emphasized a number of his conservative views, telling the crowd he's pro-life and a strong supporter of First and Second Amendment rights. He said he also is ready to tackle the issue of right-to-work, which failed to muster enough support at the General Assembly's recent veto session. The measure has been considered a Republican priority in recent years, and most expect it will not move forward without a Republican governor.

"What I believe is really important is that we build an economy that creates more private sector paychecks and bigger private-sector paychecks," Greitens said. "When I'm governor, we're going to unleash the power of our workers, our business owners, our entrepreneurs, and I believe right to work is part of that equation."

In addition to the economy, he discussed a need to improve the state's education system and provide more support for public-safety departments.

He opposes Common Core in education and allowing too much intervention by the federal government, and he said he would like to see more support for children with special needs.

As for the state's law-enforcement officials, Greitens said they deserve a governor "who has their back."

"They need to have the equipment, the training and the support they need to do their job," he said. "And I know that this has become unpopular to say in certain circles, but what I'll always tell you is I believe. I believe that the lives of our cops matter and the lives of our firefighters matter, and they deserve to be led not by lawyers, but by leaders. ..."

Greitens grew up in St. Louis County, was a Rhodes scholar after graduation from Duke University, served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars and as White House fellow.

He also has written three books.

Other Republican candidates running for governor include former Missouri House speaker Catherine Hanaway, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, state Sen. Bob Dixon and state Rep. Bart Korman. Attorney General Chris Koster is the only Democrat who has discussed his intentions to run for governor.

srinehart@semissourian.com

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2175 E. Jackson Blvd., Jackson, Mo.