Clint Zweifel, currently running for State Treasurer, just got Missouri Pro-Vote’s Outstanding Legislator Award. It should be noted that Pro-Vote doesn’t generally endorse in a primary, and none of Zweifel’s opponents are legislators and thus weren’t eligible for the award. Still, Pro-Vote is a solid progressive organization and any nod from them has to be taken seriously.

Primary opponent Andria Simckes released a number of endorsements earlier this week. Former KC mayor Charlie Wheeler and former Arnold mayor (and 2004 Democratic nominee for treasurer) Mark Powell are also running for the nomination.

The Pro-Vote press release is below the fold.

Pro-Vote Honors Zweifel

Representative Named Outstanding Legislator

ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Progressive Vote Coalition announced that Representative Clint Zweifel will receive the Outstanding Legislator Award at Pro-Vote’s 13th Annual Progressive Awards Dinner this fall.  Representative Zweifel represents the 78th District which includes parts of Hazelwood, Florissant and Bridgeton in St. Louis County.  

Clint was first elected in 2002 by a 67-vote margin.  He chaired the Missouri House Democratic Campaign Committee in 2006 overseeing the largest Democratic net gain in the House since 1978.  After three terms as a State Representative, Clint is running for Missouri State Treasurer this election cycle.  Clint was the Research and Education Director for Teamsters Local 688 and a former Pro-Vote Board Member.

Clint has helped lead Democratic policy strategy in Jefferson City on important issues like early childhood education, privacy rights and helping seniors cope with property taxes.  During his three terms in Jefferson City, Clint has emerged as a leader on state finances where he serves as the ranking member on the Ways and Means Committee and the Special Committee on Tax Reform.  Since being elected, Clint has received a 100% on Pro-Vote’s annual Legislative Scorecard every year.

“Clint has been a true champion for hard-working Missouri families on the issues that matter to all of us,” said Greg Shufeldt, Political Director for Missouri Progressive Vote Coalition.  “We are proud to recognize the great work and accomplishments of Representative Zweifel.”

The Pro-Vote Annual Awards Dinner is an impressive gathering of the progressive community to honor outstanding organizations and individuals.  More than 400 legislators, labor union and community leaders, and activists will attend the dinner and enjoy good friends and Pro-Vote’s inspriring vision.  This year’s event will be on Saturday, September 27th at the America’s Convention Center in St. Louis.

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Missouri Progressive Vote Coalition (Pro-Vote) is a statewide coalition of more than forty labor unions and community groups founded in 1992 to give grassroots organizations the tools to engage their membership in the public policy process.  Pro-Vote works to advocate for sound progressive public policies and to help elect progressive candidates.

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Asked why he wants to be Missouri State Treasurer, Mark Powell’s answer is as crisp as a new dollar bill.  He thinks the state treasurer should be a banker/investment person just as we expect the auditor to be an auditor and the attorney general to be an attorney.  Wow, what a concept.  Experience and competence in a job that is more often than not used as a stepping stone for future political career goals.  At age 57, Powell, Mayor of Arnold in Jefferson County, is not thinking beyond doing the best job he can as state treasurer.

A careful look at his resume says it all.  A degree in accounting, three decades of banking and investment experience, school board member, city council, city treasurer, all kinds of civic clubs and boards. As mayor of Arnold since 2001, Powell’s low-key, personable leadership style has allowed him to rally voters to support construction of “quality of life” projects such as a new $15 million recreation center which opened in 2005.  His next big project is a 16,000 square foot library connected to the rec center.  Arnold is a small town but has a mayor who knows how to think big.

Powell’s  visit to a Democratic club in western St. Louis County on Monday was just one of hundreds of stops over the past four years since he lost the treasurer’s race to Sarah Steelman. Given the mood of voters in 2004, Powell did remarkably well in that race, losing by just 5 percentage points.  

With his banker’s mustache, white shirt and conservative ties, his looks can be deceiving.  Powell is definitely not stodgy when it comes to what he loves best about small town Missouri – the parades.  He and his wife, Pam, never miss a chance to press the flesh along the streets of any town hosting a jamboree, county fair, holiday parade or carnival.  In fact, after he gave his daughter his old Dodge, he bought a Corvette just for the parades.  Being from Arnold where many of his neighbors work at the Chrysler plant in Fenton, Powell is adamant about supporting the local product.  One of his trademarks is his Dodge Caravan with over 90,000 miles on it.  His other car is a Jeep.  

As Powell says, the treasurer’s job is to pay the bills, balance the checkbook and invest the state’s money.  As steward of public money and a member of the Missouri State Employees’ Retirement System board, it’s up to the treasurer to find the highest rate of return for pension funds, not to use that power to reward friends and campaign contributors.  

Check Powell’s website for announcement of campaign headquarters opening soon. http://www.mayorpowell.com