Jay Nixon is going to have a primary:
Governor
Democratic
Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon Jefferson City MO 2/26/2008 3:33:16 PM
Christina Anderson Springfield MO 3/21/2008 4:24:59 PM
[emphasis added]
Small business owner, homeschooling parent, low-income mom, organic gardener, Freecycle(tm) volunteer, and community activist Christina Anderson is running for Governor of Missouri….
…okay.
Then, let’s take a look at Lt. Governor:
Democratic
Sam Page Creve Coeur MO 2/26/2008 1:25:14 PM
Michael E. Carter St Charles MO 2/26/2008 9:19:56 AM
Richard Charles Tolbert Kansas City MO 3/19/2008 11:32:05 AM
Becky L. Plattner Grand Pass MO 3/21/2008 11:36:30 AM
[emphasis added]
Is this the same Richard Tolbert?
BEFORE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI
Richard Tolbert, Complainant,
v.
Kansas City Power & Light Company, RespondantCase No. EC?2007?0407
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Blunt Appoints Becky Plattner to Conservation CommissionMARSHALL – Gov. Matt Blunt today appointed Becky L. Plattner (D) to the Missouri Conservation Commission.
“I am pleased that Becky Plattner has agreed to serve the citizens of Missouri in this new position,” Gov. Blunt said. “I look forward to working with Becky and the commission to protect Missouri’s natural beauty and wildlife.”
Ms. Plattner, 49 of Grand Pass, is the presiding commissioner in Saline County and serves as financial manager for Plattner Brothers L.L.C. Custom Farming. She has served as a consultant to the Grand Pass Special Road District, Grand Pass Pump Levy District and Saline County Domestic Lighthouse Shelter….
Then there’s State Treasurer:
Democratic
Mark Powell Arnold MO2/26/2008 1:16:06 PM
Clint Zweifel Florissant MO 2/26/2008 8:48:10 AM
Andria Danine Simckes St. Louis MO 2/26/2008 9:42:59 AM
Charles B. Wheeler Kansas City MO 3/13/2008 3:42:02 PM
[emphasis added]
Does anyone get the feeling that this is a “not St. Louis” kind of thing? Or maybe “what about Kansas City?”
This even extends to the Attorney General race:
Democratic
Chris Koster Jefferson City MO 2/26/2008 12:05:29 PMMargaret Donnelly St. Louis MO 2/26/2008 1:51:36 PM
Jeff Harris Columbia MO 65205 2/26/2008 11:01:06 AM
Molly Williams Kansas City MO 3/13/2008 2:35:19 PM
[emphasis added]
Those first quarter 2008 campaign finance reports due at the Missouri Ethics Commission in mid-April are going to be very interesting.
I am really not trying to start an argument but who is Molly Williams and why did she file for attorney general?
Tolbert is a frequent candidate in Jackson County and someone who tends to get himself on TV frequently to oppose whatever the new plan of the city is that month (such as the Bannister thing, or the Stadium plans). Tolbert has run for Jackson County Executive multiple times as a member of the Reform party (he ran in the Democratic primary in 2006, while his brother won the Reform primary. His brother then stepped aside and Richard got the nomination. Tolbert also ran for Congress as a Libertarian (and lost a primary).
Plattner was elected Presiding Commissioner of Saline County. Which means that she should probably win Saline County, fare well in Howard County, fare decently in Pettis County, and get random votes elsewhere. It’s peculiar that a Blunt appointee is running for office again. But, I would guess that Blunt had to appoint a Democrat to that spot anyways.
Michael Carter is a candidate who was not commented on, but according to his press releases, he plans to unleash 50 Million robocalls in his candidacy. Which has to be one of the stupider tactics possible. That means at least 12 robocalls for every voter. Plus, i’d imagine that making 50 million calls costs money.
Wheeler shouldn’t be in the top 3 of this primary. If he is, then someone severely screwed up their own effort. Wheeler lost badly to Mike Sanders in the 2006 Jackson County Executive primary. Wheeler has no real elective/professional experience to suggest that he would be a good treasurer (Powell, Simckes, and Zweiffel do). Wheeler noted remembering the Hoover Presidency.
I still think that Powell will be helped the most in the “random vote” demographic by being listed first on the ballot and having a rather generic name. Powell also being a good candidate makes the whole thing better.
As for the Koster/Molly Williams thing. I’m not convinced of nefarious Koster-led wrongdoing. If Koster was wanting to take votes way from Margaret Donnelly, why would he pick someone who’s from his backyard? I’m sure there’s a few other random female lawyers who can be lured into running for Attorney General, if that’s what really happened. I would imagine there’s not a significant number of voters who’ll just show up, look for female names on the ballot, and vote for Molly Williams because she’s a woman. Anyways, Donnelly is listed above Williams on the ballot, that’ll be useful if that whole thing is a factor.
Nah, if Kansas City (or “Everybody but STL”) was plotting some counterticket, i’d imagine they could find some better candidates than a presiding commissioner and an 82 year old former Mayor. Heck, even bringing back Jason Klumb for yet another shot at office obviously top Wheeler. (Klumb lost for Treasurer and State Senate as a KC resident, but he did win a state house seat in Bates County in the 1990s)
Anyways, Sam Page went to UMKC. Page probably has as many credentials to be a KC favorite as Plattner.
Barring some huge filing, I’m pretty sure i’ll decide early to support Page. As for Attorney General and Treasurer, there’s still time.
So, speaking of frequent/fringe candidates.. what happened to James Askew?
Ron Paul supporters file in CD4 (Terrazas) and CD5 (Langkraehr). Steven Hedrick (LP candidate in CD9 in 2006) filed in HD121 against Hoskins.
Appears that somebody is joining the Republican party in West-Central Missouri.
I don’t know if there’s going to be any LP effort to file as LP in these districts. But they did get Tamara Millay to file in CD9. So the Missouri Libertarian Party is far more than just Chief Wana Dubie.
a) Jim Noland shows up to aim for his 5th straight run against Ike Skelton. And I would beat on him to defeat Stanley “Mr. Plow” Plough.
b) One or two of the candidates who file for the Senate against Talent and Bond will show up to file against Hulshof/Steelman
c) Libertarians find 5 more Congressional candidates (they have candidates in the 1st, 6th, 7th, and 8th). Back in 2006, 3 of 9 LP Congressional candidates hailed from Warrensburg. Once again proving that living in a Congressional district is not a requirement for running there.
—
As for other possibilities. I’m hoping for a “Richard Bullet Train Pisani” comeback. Bullet trains are definately better than Gondola-based light rail (sorry Clay). Bullet lightrail would be an acceptable compromise too. Monorail, monorail, monoraaail!
One suggestion about why she’s running would be that she’s a Koster plant, meant to take votes from Donnelly, who was the only woman in the race. Whoever suggested that offered no proof and furthermore didn’t think Williams would draw enough votes to matter.
…just curiosity.
I have no idea. I did some searching and couldn’t find anything I could pin down.
I recall a number of “unknown” filers in past statewide elections.
I’m wondering if there will be any more before the end of the filing deadline on March 25, 2008 at 5:00 p.m.