L to R: Kristi Kenney, Scott Largent, Jim Jackson, Denny Hoskins, and Beth Grubb. Mike McGhee showed up a minute or two after the photo was taken.

On Tuesday Night, October 14th, 2008.. the six candidates in the 120th, 121st, and 122nd participated in a forum held in the Auditorium (Wood 100) at the University of Central Missouri. So here’s a summary of some of their comments, written in extreme-shorthand on a handout.

edit – The Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal was also there and their story was a good summary of some of the events.

First, the Economy…

Largent mentioned a dislike for wasteful spending, and a dislike for taxes. He noted that his small business (which he introduced in his opening statement) would lose jobs if taxes were raised. He then comes out in support for spending more on schools, paying teachers better, and acknowledges the Chamber of Commerce endorsement.

Kenney mentioned health care, expanding vocational schools, wanting tax credits that lead to jobs in Missouri. She also mentioned alternative energies and tourism. She then mentioned Jay Nixon’s Missouri Promise.

Hoskins likes quality jobs, dislikes taxes, wants a public/private pact on alternative energies with the school. He also notes that quality jobs mean people stay in Johnson County.

Jackson notes the economy is a tragedy, and probably went over a few more points. He closed by expecting some puzzlement that the Chamber of Commerce thought that he didn’t know enough about business despite his lifetime of experience in business.

McGhee began by noting that the local banks are solid. Then he started talking about immigration being a cause of economic problems. He said that neither Obama or McCain is saying much there. Then he expressed a desire for Missouri’s wine industry to return and put the Californians back in their place.

Grubb essentially went over health care in her answer on the economy.

What about Education?

Kenney noted that selling MOHELA assets was a bad idea. She talked about prioritizing education and the Missouri Promise.

Largent mentioned the importance of education. He wants to expand schloarships too.

Jackson notes that the costs of college are up and that he has seen that over the last decade with his kids in school. He also mentioned the Missouri Promise.

Hoskins talked about unfortunate spending cuts on education. He put out a plan with tax incentives, working with high schools on ACT/SAT, expanding A+ to four year schools (he didn’t use the words Missouri Promise, stunningly), and spending the surplus on education.

Grubb noted that Missouri isn’t spending much on education (last for higher ed in the nation, if I recall correctly). She also mentioned incentives.

McGhee talked about money being spent and how it’s pretty big. Then he mentioned Linn Tech for Higginsville, and more training for Linemen. If these McGhee write-ups seem odd, all will be answered later.

FACTORS!

Largent gave an overview leading up to his election as coroner. Kenney mentioned being a small-town lawyer and being fiscally conservative.

Hoskins talked about how he’s a CPA, and the Missouri House has no CPAs, and how we need CPAs that use their CPA powers to cut spending.

Jackson relies on good sense. He told of getting rid of parking meters and some form of inefficent stickers that I didn’t totally hear or write down.

McGhee never shook hands with a politician or had a yard sign before running. He then talks about various things with having more Democratic friends than Republican friends and voting against a school funding bill.

Grubb talked about scouting, and being prepared. Then she talked about valuing community members (mentioning people with disabilities as one specific group).

Audience questions

They’re all impressed with young people being active this year. Also, you apparently can’t get into McGhee’s office without tripping over an intern. I swear he said that.

Lynn Stoppy got a question through on kids going on the wrong path, and maybe I should have written a bit of notes there. Hoskins got a note since he randomly brought up putting veto sessions on a secure website to avoid spending lots of money on a veto session. And you thought CPA powers were mythical!

As for wasteful spending

Kenney mentioned tax credits for outsourcers.

Largent mentioned looking at non-specific things. He then noted that education was a priority.

Jackson notes that spending has to be careful and that more jobs equal more revenue.

Hoskins mentioned that he’s a CPA, and that he would use his CPA powers to cut waste, and he would also maximize his CPA powers by trying to get on the budget committee.

Grubb mentioned the influence of special interests and how removing donation limits makes things worse. Basically it’s harder to remove wasteful spending with Special Interests dictating priorities. She also mentioned that term limits make lobbyists more powerful.

McGhee noted that everybody has a lobbyist (including the Catholic Church). He listens to lobbyists to get the inside skinny. He cast 6000 votes in the last session(s) and they don’t read all the bills. Then he mentioned cutting 3,000 state jobs and wanting to reduce the size of the state house to 119.

The only closing statement I really remembered is Mike McGhee’s. McGhee mentioned that he has pneumonia. He was up there with a bottle of Coke and taking medication during the questions. He also noted that he would have retired this year, but they made him stay around and run again. Then he said he’s probably out after this term. Considering that he was medicated, I will be nice and note that he was the most entertaining part of the night, and I hope he gets well very soon too.

So, let’s summarize the Republicans in a sentence.

Largent: “Education is a high priority”

Hoskins: “Noun, Verb, CPA”

McGhee: “I never wanted to do this, they made me run, and I won!”

Take the impact of a forum with a slightly sparse crowd however you will. But, at least I got some notes out of the night.