On Wednesday, the Democratic candidate for the 30th District State Senate seat in Springfield announced his support for a November ballot initiative to raise Missouri's minimum wage.
Doug Harpool believes the pay boost will generate between $3.3 and $4.3 million dollars each year in state revenue.
Harpool is challenging Republican Sen. Norma Champion this November. We waited to post his announcement in order to get Champion's opinion.
Over the past week and a half, I have placed at least a dozen calls to Sen. Norma Champion's home and campaign office, requesting an interview with her on her positions on the two ballot initiatives. Multiple messages have been left. I have yet to receive a call back from the Senator. At two different points, I was told by staffers in her campaign office that they would pass my message along and that she would get back to me. It's been close to two weeks, and I still haven't heard from the Senator.
"She's been very busy with events and things," one campaign staffer told me.
Harpool accuses Champion of "having a reputation for being unable to take a position on any issue without first getting approval from her political party leadership or her advisors in Jefferson City."
Still, Missouri State University political science professor George Connor says Champion will be extremely difficult to knock off. "Harpool, like Craig Hosmer could run and do well in a House district, but the demographics of the Senate district have changed," Connor said.
"Going to the Senate, it will be harder to court a broader appeal. The area is increasingly conservative," notes Connor. "Harpool is a good guy, a good campaigner, but I still put him to the left of most of the Senate district."
Connor also says Champion's popularity remains high.
"Whether or not people know what she's doing in Jefferson City is a separate question, she's still popular and got a lot of history. People think, 'Aunt Norma won't hurt me,'" Connor says.
I will continue to make calls to Senator Champion to ask her about her views on these issues. When I do get in contact with her, or she responds through an interview, campaign spokesperson or press release, I will publish her views here.
2 comments:
Bob Tomato-- What have those other media outlets that you claim Champion prefers dealing with reported on her position on Minimum WAge and Stem Cell? Has she told them her position? Has she told you her position? Has she told anyone who isn't a paid lobbyist for a special interest group that gives out campaign contributions her position?
If Newberry hadn't have run, Doug Burlison might have had a better shot at challenging Roy "Roy" Blunt...
...but it doesn't matter - Blunt's a Congressman-for-life, and won't debate his opponents. We get what we deserve.
But don't blame me... I'm voting for Kevin Craig.
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