Tilley positions self as diplomatic candidate for lieutenant governor

Missouri House Speaker Steve Tilley has never looked to his counterparts in Washington for inspiration. In fact, by his estimation, it's quite the contrary.

In his nearly seven years in the Missouri House, the Perryville Republican says he's made efforts to keep the bickering to a minimum, treat colleagues from both parties with respect and -- when his principles demand it -- that he disagree agreeably.

"Some of the speakers in the past have been polarizing, but that's just not my nature," Tilley said. "I've tried to change the tone. Whatever they do in D.C., I try to do the opposite. I think that's made me viewed upon in a different way."

Tilley, 40, hopes such an attitude will appeal to voters on a statewide level. On Thursday, he officially launched his campaign for lieutenant governor, reporting already hefty campaign coffers of more than $1 million.

Tilley is an aggressive fundraiser who served as House majority leader before taking over the chamber's top spot at the start of the 2011 session. He said he refrained from fundraising during the legislative session but raised $347,000 from the end of the session in mid-May until the end of the quarterly campaign finance reporting period on June 30. When added to the money previously raised, Tilley said, he has more than $1 million in his campaign account.

Tilley's announcement Thursday came as no surprise. Five weeks after being elected speaker last year, Tilley changed his campaign committee to reflect a run for the No. 2 spot in Missouri government.

But Tilley gave a round of media interviews Thursday making the announcement formal, noting that he has the support of current Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder who is expected to run against Gov. Jay Nixon next year.

"He's been a great leader for Republicans," Kinder said. "In his short time in the legislature, he shot up to majority leader and then speaker and he's borne great responsibility in those roles and shown a lot of leadership. I'm not officially endorsing anyone at this point, but I've made no secret of the fact that I think Steve Tilley would make a great lieutenant governor."

Tilley, who will be forced out of office by term limits next year, said his campaign will focus on four major issues -- job creation, education, seniors and veterans affairs. He said he believes those issues are crucial for Missouri's future.

"We don't have time to wait for Washington to fix unemployment," he said. "Missourians need jobs now."

Tilley said he will work to open new markets for Missouri goods both in America and around the world, recruit new employers to the state and work to reduce "job-destroying red tape" that harms small employers.

The only other declared candidate so far is Democrat Becky Plattner, the former presiding commissioner of Saline County who is chairwoman of the Missouri Conservation Commission. Plattner also ran for lieutenant governor in 2008, losing in the Democratic primary.

She said Thursday that she disagrees with the assessment that Tilley has the edge in name recognition.

"I'm sure he's going to claim his eight years as a House rep, but I'm going to claim my 20 years in political life," she said. "I think my time on the Missouri Conservation Commission and the years in government helps me bring as much to the table as he does."

Rep. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau, called Tilley a "top-notch" leader. Wallingford cited the fact that Tilley appointed Rep. Chris Kelly, D-Columbia, to chair the appropriations committee for public safety and correction.

"Steve realized that Chris had some expertise, and it showed in what we were able to accomplish," Wallingford said. "Steve saw the experience and not the initial behind the name."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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