ST. LOUIS – State Senator Scott Sifton announced today his intention to seek the Democratic nomination for Missouri Attorney General in 2016. Sifton would be returning to the office where his legal career began.
“I am tremendously grateful for the experience I gained early in my legal career working on special prosecutions and defending against criminal appeals in the Missouri Attorney General’s office,” Sifton said. “I pledge that as Attorney General, I will work to make Missouri safer for every family, consumer, community and business.”
While with the Attorney General’s office, Sifton worked to uphold the sentences imposed on murderers, drug dealers, rapists, child abusers and drunk drivers. He also worked on special prosecutions in cases of public corruption, senior fraud, nursing home patient neglect and methamphetamine manufacturing.
In the Senate, Sifton has championed strong ethics rules for legislators, having refused to accept lobbyist gifts and introduced a bill banning them. He has also pushed legislation to expand the use of DNA evidence in criminal investigations, reform Missouri’s school transfer law, protect consumers and reduce property taxes for seniors. He also advocates for veterans’ benefits as a member of the Missouri Veterans Commission.
About Scott Sifton
Sen. Sifton was raised in Gladstone, Missouri, a suburb in the Kansas City Northland. He graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree from Truman State University and earned his law degree from the University of Michigan. He is a practicing attorney and partner at the St. Louis law firm of Husch Blackwell. His experience in 15 years of private practice includes civil rights, Hancock Amendment, Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, consumer protection, non-profit management, environmental, false advertising, criminal, occupational disease, licensing, administrative law and shareholder matters, all of which the Office of Attorney General addresses as well. He represented the special deputy receiver in the clean-up of the National Prearranged Services scam, one of the largest consumer fraud schemes in Missouri history.
Sifton’s public service began on the Affton School Board in 2001, where he served until 2010, including two terms as board president. He won election to the Missouri House of Representatives in south St. Louis County in 2010, a year in which Democrats lost 17 seats. In 2012, he defeated incumbent Republican State Senator Jim Lembke in one of the most hotly contested races in recent Missouri history, becoming the first Democrat to defeat a full-term Republican Senator in recent memory.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY • Democratic state Sen. Scott Sifton today ended months of speculation by confirming he will indeed seek his party’s nomination for attorney general in 2016.
A South County Democrat, Sifton served in the Missouri Attorney General’s office at the onset of his legal career….
We’ve been covering the Jackson County Democratic Committee’s annual Truman Days celebration at the Holiday Inn Coco Key in Kansas City this weekend. Last night’s speakers at the Truman Days gala dinner included Representative Emanuel Cleaver, Attorney General Chris Koster, and keynote speaker, Representative Linda Sanchez.
State Senator Scott Sifton (left) and William Grimes, the Democratic Party candidate in the 57th Legislative District (right).
Former Governor Roger Wilson.
Cass County Prosecutor Teresa Hensley.
Representative Emanuel Cleaver.
Senator Harold Caskey and Kay Caskey at Truman Days in Kansas City. Senator Caskey and Senator Ed Quick
were awarded the Jackson County Democratic Committee’s 2014 Senator Ronnie DePasco Public Service Award.
Attorney General Chris Koster.
Representative Linda Chavez Sanchez, the keynote speaker for the evening.
We’re covering the Jackson County Democratic Committee’s annual Truman Days celebration at the Holiday Inn Coco Key in Kansas City this weekend. On Friday night it’s an opportunity for candidates, their supporters, and activists to meet each other and talk about their campaigns and the political landscape in Missouri.
Winston Apple, a Democratic Party candidate in the 29th Legislative District.
Patty Johnson, the Democratic Party candidate in the 56th Legislative District.
Understandably there’s a strong presence from organized labor at Truman Days.
Getting a living wage is not a zero sum game.
Bill Hedge, a Democratic Party candidate in the 6th Congressional District.
This evening speakers at the Truman Days gala will include Representative Emanuel Cleaver, State Treasurer Clint Zweifel, Secretary of State Jason Kander, Attorney General Chris Koster, Governor Jay Nixon and keynote speaker, Representative Linda Sanchez.
Yes, this Jim Lembke (r) will no longer serve in the Missouri Senate come January.
Scott Sifton (D), the Senator-elect, will have a different agenda (from his campaign web site):
….”Lobbyists shower gifts, meals and trips on elected officials for one reason – it works,” said Scott Sifton. “There aren’t lobbyists for ordinary citizens in Jefferson City. We need to take the gifts-for-access model off the table.”
Sifton has never accepted a meal, trip or gift from a lobbyist – and he never will.
Sifton continued, “I agree with Republican State Senator John Lamping (R-24), who was quoted, ‘We, as elected officials, need to hold ourselves to the highest standards.'” Lamping, like Sifton, accepts no gifts, no trips, and no free meals.
“My first piece of legislation I file will be a total ban on lobbyist gifts to legislators, their staffs and their families. It has to stop.” Sifton concluded.
Information Reported On: 2012 – 30 Day After Primary Election-8/7/2012
Beginning Money on Hand $138,893.39
Ending Money On Hand $149,597.04
[emphasis added]
The republicans have all the money the need. The Democratic candidates have demonstrated an ability to raise money. These races are going to be very interesting to watch.