(As originally posted at Comments St. Louis)

With the election a little more than 2 weeks away, I am posting my preferences for election. Normally, I only post a sample ballot during the primary, because in the general, I vote for Democrats or as Montgomery Brewster urged, “None of the above.” But this general, I’ve decided to make my preferences public by highlighting key candidates that have an opponent on the ballot two weeks from tomorrow. In top-down fashion, those preferences are as follows:

Barack Obama for President – In no previous decade has it been possible for an African-American to be elected President of the United States. And, if that weren’t reason enough to vote for Senator Obama, his compelling vision to carry this nation into a new era–one free from hatred, bigotry and class warfare. He is both the promise and the fulfillment of that promise.

Jeremiah “Jay” Nixon for Governor – After 4 years of Blunt-trauma, we need a new direction. State Attorney General Nixon has not gained many friends in the city of St. Louis due to his defence of the state’s position on the school desegregation funds, but in the execution of those duties, he showed his ability to do the right thing over doing the popular thing.

Robin Carnahan for Secretary of State – Far from resting on her laurel’s (or family name), our Secretary of State has worked very hard to create a no-controversy atmosphere in her office. The Secretary of State’s office is one that is prone to fraud and malfeasance, but not under Carnahan. She has earned to be returned to office.

Bill Haas for U.S. Representative (2nd) – Former School Board Member, Bill Haas, was somehow able to best his Democrat rival in the primary. It appears that the issues Haas has wrestled with in the past are truly in the past. While Haas may not be the ideal candidate, electing him is a much better option than returning his opponent. While I do not expect Haas to be victorious on the 4th, mostly for fundraising reasons, he truly is the better candidate and I urge those readers in the 2nd district to vote for him.

Russ Carnahan for U.S. Representative (3rd) – Congressman Carnahan has been a positive influence for his district and the state. His fresh thinking has helped push green initiatives, that are desperately needed in the city and in Missouri.

Joan Barry for state Senate (1st) – Joan and husband, Phil Barry, have decades of experience in Jefferson City as former state Representatives. Barry, a nurse, understands the critical level that the state’s health care system is at. As good a candidate as Barry is, her opponent is equally scary. His views are regressive, repressive and better suited as a Halloween prank than a platform for a stat Senate candidate.

Robin Wright-Jones for state Senate (5th) – Currently a state Representative, Wright-Jones, has run on a platform of supporting public education and women’s issues to the fullest degree.

Jeanette Mott Oxford for state Representative (59th) – No more progressive a candidate will you ever find than state Representative Jeanette Mott Oxford. As a former public policy advocate for progressive issues, she has continued her work in the state House.

Tishaura O. Jones for state Representative (63rd) – Former Committeewoman of the 8th ward, Jones lost that post due to her bid for this state Representative seat. Coming from a political family, this young lady is one to watch.

Rachel Storch for state Representative (64th) – As House Democratic Campaign Committee Chair, and a darling of the Democratic Party, politically savvy state Representative Rachel Storch should have no trouble defeating her general election opponent by at least the same 70 plus percent that she trounced her primary opponent in August. Storch is not just another rising star, but the rising star for Democrats in the St. Louis area.

Michael Vogt for state Representative (66th) – State Representative Vogt heads into his last possible term due to term limits, in his district that straddles the city-county line. Vogt is known to have served both his county and city constituents equally. Vogt has heavy-hitter campaign manager Greg Christian on board, which should make this an easy win for the team.

Vicki Lorenz Englund for state Representative (85th) – This South County state Representative candidate has been working very hard for the last year (or so) to bring her issues to the voters of her district.

Kent Cunningham for state Representative (109th) – A family-farmer and agricultural researcher from Franklin County, Cunningham has spent the last 20 plus years serving his community. As a founder of the Labadie Sewer District, a 4-H project leader, a member of the Labadie Chamber of Commerce and a leader within his church, Cunningham has given more to his community than most, and in the process gain invaluable leadership experience that his opponent just can’t match.

Larry Williams for city Treasurer – Under Williams’ administration, the city has seen a boom of parking-derived funding to the city’s coffers. Sound investing has been the calling-card of William’s capable office.

Constitutional Amendment 1 – This amendment is aimed at not only disenfranchising non-native English-speakers and is clearly a shot-across-the-bow at immigrants, but is fundamentally unnecessary, as current provisions within the state Constitution have similar requirements. The true aim of this amendment is to increase right-wing voter turnout on election day, similar to the anti-gay marriage proposal a few years back. There should be a clear message sent to proponents that such intolerance will not be accepted, through a NO vote.

Proposition A – This issue is so widely debated recently, that an analysis of each point is merited:

  • “repeal the current individual maximum loss limit for gambling;” and “prohibit any future loss limits;”- This would put Missouri gaming on par with destination locations like Tupelo, MS. Our state is losing out on tourism dollars from not only big gamblers, but also the buses of vacationers.
  • “restrict the number of casinos to those already built or being built;” – Shortly after riverboat casinos were allowed in Missouri, there was a rush to build in Kansas City, with at least half a dozen in the metro-Kansas City area having been built. Within two years most had closed, due to limited market. Those that remained attracted more than just gamblers through community-like structures that housed restaurants, movie theatres, arcades and other attractions for the kids while the parents played their own games. Missouri has hit the limit of casinos it needs. Those currently operating still need to compete for gaming business, as is apparent in the competing marketing of Harrah’s,
    Lumiere and Ameristar, in just the St. Louis market.
  • “increase the gambling tax from 20% to 21%;” – When the ability exists to shift the tax burden to discretionary spending, such as gambling, and away from regressive taxes, such as sales tax, it should be utilized.
  • “create a new specific education fund from gambling tax proceeds generated as a result of this measure….” and “require annual audits of the new fund;” – One point many skeptics of this measure have had is that voters have previously been promised that the increase funds from gambling (such as through the state lottery) would be allocated to schools, but that law-makers have instead diverted those funds to other expenditures. This provision within the measure would ensure that the new revenue would go exactly where promised.

The residents of Missouri and St. Louis, especially, are best served by a YES vote on this measure.

Proposition B (the establishment of Missouri Quality Homecare Council) – As our population ages, especially the baby-boomer generation, and as health care costs continue to skyrocket, the importance of home health care workers increases. Not only can home health care workers decrease the need for the elderly to move into assisted living facilities, which weakens our neighborhoods, but these use of Licensed Practical Nurses as home health care workers can reduce the costs associated with elder-health care. Finally, with the scandals of elder-abuse any ability for the state to monitor the quality of health care is vital. The residents of Missouri and St. Louis are best served by a YESvote on this measure.

Proposition C – Missouri was the last state in which a nuclear power plant was built, and with current speculation, it might be the state with the next built. Without debating the issue of nuclear power’s risks and rewards, it is obvious that Missourians, as most Americans, are ever-ready consumers of electricity. Most power generated within Missouri comes from coal (86%), and less than 2% of our electricity is from renewable resources. This measure would require investor-owned electricity companies to generate or purchase at least 2% of their power from renewable resources by 2011 and 15% by 2021. Further rate increases related to this measure cannot exceed 1%. Currently, if you have solar panels that generate your electricity, you might generate more than you consume, but even if you are connected to the power grid, the electric companies in Missouri will not purchase your excess because they see you as competition. However, if in any month you consume more than you are able to produce, they will gladly send you a bill for the electricity they supply. This anti-competitive behavior discourages investment in renewable energy sources. So, this measure would level the playing field for sources, such as wind, solar, water and geothermal. The residents of Missouri and St. Louis are best served by a YES vote on this measure.