Still announces another labor endorsement

Mary Still, candidate for the 25th District Missouri House Seat, announced her endorsement by the Missouri Laborers’ International Union of North America Thursday.

The union represents 400 workers from Laborers’ Local 955 and 15,000 workers statewide, according to a campaign release.

“Her experience in the Attorney General’s office and the Governor’s office as well has her 25 year commitment to Columbia ensure that she will be a strong voice for us as well as her community,” Adam McBride of the Missouri Laborers’ Union stated in the release.

This is Still’s fourth labor endorsement. She announced the endorsements of the Missouri Public Employee Division of LIUNA, Local 733, the United Auto Workers and the Missouri National Education Association earlier in the campaign.

On Tuesday, I rode with Still while she traveled to place one of her campaign signs in John Batye’s yard, a member of the Carpenter’s Union local #1925, so she obviously has some strong support from organized labor around Columbia.

The Democratic primary will be August 5. Still faces opponents Sean Spence and Bob Pund. The winner will face Republican Ryan Asbridge in the general election.

Gaw highlights utilities record with second TV ad

Former Missouri Public Service Commission chairman Steve Gaw released his second TV spot today. The ad shows him outdoors and surrounded by supporters as he speaks about his intentions to “stand up to big oil and drug companies, just like when I stood up to the big utility companies in Missouri, when they tried to raise your rates.”

Gaw has said that an emphasis on domestic drilling (according to individual states’ decisions) while investing in alternative energy sources and cracking down on oil speculators would be his strategy to decrease gas prices.

Jacob prepared to self-finance; Ninth District candidates to debate in Kirksville

Of the Democratic candidates for the Ninth District, only former Sen. Ken Jacob has his campaign finance information available through the Federal Election Commission so far.

Jacob’s report shows that he has $73,415 on hand as of June 30. But according to a news release from his campaign, he is prepared to take out a $200,000 loan to finance his run for the U.S. House.

In the release, Jacob decried the role of money in politics, calling it “evil.”

“Rather than debating proposals, talking to voters and working on solutions, politicians are glued to the phone raising money for 30 second TV spots. Our politics has to change,” Jacob said in the release.

Jacob submitted his report early, while State Rep. Judy Baker, Marion County Commissioner Lyndon Bode and former Public Service Commission chairman Steve Gaw submitted theirs on Tuesday, which was the deadline for the quarter. Their numbers should be available soon.