Archive for September 2022

Republican state auditor nominee and current Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he talked about his plans for the office if he prevails in November.

Fitzpatrick won a hotly contested GOP primary earlier this year against state Rep. David Gregory.

Fitzpatrick is now facing off against Democrat Alan Green on Nov. 8. Green served in the Missouri House from 2014 through 2020. You can listen to Green’s episode of Politically Speaking by clicking here. 

Here’s what Fitzpatrick had to say during the show:

• How his primary against Gregory prompted him to barnstorm the state and raise the money needed to win. 
• His desire to more carefully monitor how local governments are spending federal pandemic funds. Some jurisdictions, like St. Louis and St. Louis County, received hundreds of millions of dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act.
• How he would want to make monitoring public school funding a bigger priority if he’s elected to the auditor’s office.
• He responded to the contention that it would be better for a Democrat to be state auditor, since Republicans control most of state government already.

Fitzpatrick served three full terms in the Missouri House, including two years as chairman of the powerful Budget Committee. Gov. Mike Parson appointed the Barry County Republican to be treasurer in early 2019 after Eric Schmitt was picked to be attorney general. He won a full four-year term in 2020 against Democrat Vicki Englund.

Fitzpatrick is a native of Shell Knob, a community about 40 miles from Branson. He started a dock-repair business while he was in high school, a company that grew dramatically while he was in college.

If Fitzpatrick wins his race and Schmitt prevails in the U.S. Senate contest, Republicans will control every statewide office.

Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: @jrosenbaum

Follow Scott Fitzpatrick on Twitter: @FitzpatrickMO

With a special session on income tax cuts and agricultural tax credits still ongoing, state Rep. LaKeySha Bosley returned to Politically Speaking and talked about why she feels the debate thus far has been a “disaster.”

Bosley represents Missouri’s 79th District, which takes in a portion of St. Louis. She is running unopposed in November for her seat – which means she will serve in her third term since getting elected to the Missouri House in 2018.

Here’s what Bosley had to say during the show:

• Bosley was critical of how Republicans had to add members of the House to a committee in order to pass an agricultural tax credit bill last week. It barely got enough votes to make it out of the chamber, but not enough for an “emergency clause” to make the measure go into effect right away.
• She also said she’s not in favor of a plan to cut Missouri’s income taxes. She said it would help working Missouris to cut taxes on food or diapers – especially since people who make less money don’t pay that much in state income taxes.
• While Bosley is not optimistic that lawmakers will repeal a law banning abortion except for medical emergencies, she is hopeful that voters could repeal it if a plan makes it to the ballot in 2024.
• With Missouri’s elections less than two months away, Bosley provided her take on whether Democratic Senate hopeful Trudy Busch Valentine can compete with GOP nominee Eric Schmitt.
• She also discussed whether African-American candidates are at a disadvantage when running for statewide office, especially since Black candidates have traditionally had difficulty raising money compared to their white counterparts.

Bosley comes from a prominent political family in St. Louis. Her brother, Freeman Bosley Jr., was elected as St. Louis’ first African American mayor in the 1990s. Her father, Freeman Bosley Sr., served on the Board of Aldermen for decades. Another brother, Brandon Bosley, is currently the alderman for St. Louis’ 3rd Ward. And her mother, Lucinda Frazier, is a longtime Democratic committeewoman.

Bosley serves on the powerful House Budget Committee. She also played a major role this past session on congressional redistricting, serving on a House committee that dealt with that topic.

Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: @jrosenbaum

Follow LaKeySha Bosley on Twitter: @TeamBosleyMO79

Follow Mark Mantovani on Twitter: @MarkForSTL

Republican St. Louis County executive nominee Mark Mantovani is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he talked about his return to the electoral fray after two unsuccessful attempts to become the county executive as a Democrat.

The St. Louis County Republican Central Committee tapped Mantovani to replace Katherine Pinner, who withdrew from the contest after her campaign strategy and beliefs about COVID-19 came under intense scrutiny. He’ll face off against incumbent Democratic St. Louis County Executive Sam Page on Nov. 8.

Page recorded an episode of Politically Speaking earlier this summer. You can listen to it here.

Here’s what Mantovani talked about on the show:

• Mantovani explained why he decided to switch political parties — and whether his prior statements about his views on key issues make him out of step with Republican voters.
• He also detailed why crime prevention would be a major priority if he’s elected in November. The county executive does not have direct control over the St. Louis County Police Department, but the officeholder is responsible for appointing members of the Board of Police Commissioners.
• Mantovani also talked about how he would have handled the COVID-19 pandemic differently from Page. After he won his election in 2020, Page’s administration imposed mask mandates that were not enforced – as well as a vaccine mandate for county employees.
• With less than 50 days to mount a campaign, Mantovani discussed how he would thread a difficult needle to win a county executive contest as a Republican.

Mantovani is a retired business executive who came within 2,000 votes of defeating County Executive Steve Stenger in 2018. The campaign was contentious, with Stenger questioning Mantovani’s Democratic credentials. Mantovani focused some of his campaign on whether Stenger’s actions as county executive corresponded with political donations, a message that was validated when Stenger resigned while facing corruption charges.

He ran again for county executive in 2020, finishing second behind Page in a race that also featured St. Louis County Assessor Jake Zimmerman and Jamie Tolliver.

Follow Rachel Lippmann on Twitter: @rlippmann

Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: @jrosenbaum    

Republican George Hruza is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where he talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about his bid for the 24th state Senate District.

Hruza is seeking to represent the St. Louis County-based district that includes Fenton, Maryland Heights and Kirkwood. He’s running against Rep. Tracy McCreery, an Olivette Democrat who has served in the Missouri House for roughly nine years.

McCreery’s episode of Politically Speaking can be found here.

Here’s what Hruza talked about on the program:

• His background, which includes how his mother was liberated from a concentration camp and how his family escaped a communist dictatorship in what was Czechoslovakia. 
• Voters’ concerns about rising inflation and crime, as well as about whether schools are performing as well as they should.
• His desire to ease Missouri’s ban on abortion. Currently, someone can only get a legal abortion due to a medical emergency. Hruza wants to expand that to include protecting a person’s health and cases in which they became pregnant because of rape or incest.
• How he’s navigating what most observers believe is the most competitive state Senate race in Missouri this year.

Hruza is a dermatologist who lived for 28 years in Ladue and recently moved to Huntleigh. He ended up filing for the seat after redistricting was finalized and it appeared that the 24th District would be winnable for Republicans.

Hruza defeated attorney Brett Schenck in the GOP primary. He said having a primary was a “godsend,” because it compelled him to start meeting voters early in the election season.

Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: @jrosenbaum

Follow George Hruza on Twitter: @GeorgeHruza

[WLHA 007]: We Live Here Auténtico! | Harry ‘Boom-Boom’ Lopez | Coaching Latino Leaders to Level Up In Life

Today we level up with Harry “BOOM BOOM” who founded “Launch Latinx, a mindset and business coaching accelerator program that champions extraordinary Latino visionaries and coaches to access their potential.

He writes and speaks on issues of personal and professional change. Happiness, health, inspiration, mindful living and conscious business are key to his unique programs. that blends many of his experiences in coaching, spiritual psychology, executive leadership, and social impact.

What does living Autentico mean to you?

The never-ending pursuit of the liberation of one’s soul. Living in full body alignment. Pursuit of a Mission far greater than oneself. To have truth and Integrity with oneself.

About Harry

His coaching career started when he was a third-grade professor in Tennessee back in 2012. he was assigned a coach who would come to his classroom week after week and provide him with feedback, mentorship and guidance. After seeing what coaching did for him, there was no turning back and Harry realized he wanted to have a similar impact in the lives of others.

Harry received his bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and his Master’s in Education from Lipscomb University and is a graduate of the Social Impact Strategy Program at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice.

He received his training in Results Coaching from the International Coaching Federation in partnership with Teach For America.

Harry is a former Adjunct Professor of Business Leadership at Broward College, 2012 Teach For America Corps Member, and Fulbright Scholarship recipient.

[Summary] On/In this episode of We Live Here Autentico, we spend time with transformational coach and leader in the consciousness industry, Harry Lopez, championing extraordinary Latinx visionaries, coaches & legends to their limitless potential.

You’re going to learn how to activate your voice, power and love to take action toward your goals.

We’re diving into the consciousness movement and how that work can help us.

[Statement/Thesis] There is powerful science behind the consciousness movement and there’s no one better to learn from than transformational coach Harry “Boom Boom” Lopez.

In this episode you’ll discover:

• What it means to have a coach
• The importance of navigating your career path
• How self-doubt and self-limiting thoughts (i.e. generational trauma or society expectations) leads to victimization and suffering
• Why vision trumps everything and is the only thing that will pull you out of the weeds when you want to stay in bed
• How to know and believe that you’re good enough and you’re worthy
• How to tap into your personal trauma and transform
• The science of mushrooms as medicine
• How intersecting and overlapping identities offer superpowers for powerful living

Mentioned in this episode:

Janie Flores, founder

Buena Vida Media

www.buenavidamedia.com/

Instagram: @buenavidamedia

Instagram: @janiefloreslive

Twitter: @juanis111

Vanderbilt University

https://www.vanderbilt.edu/

Nashville, Tennessee 37240

615-322-7311

Lipscomb University

https://www.lipscomb.edu/

One University Park Drive

Nashville, TN 37204

800.333.4358

Social Impact Strategy Program /University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice

www.upenn.edu

Philadelphia, PA 19104

(215) 898-5000

International Coaching Federation

Corporate Headquarters

Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (IPEC)

149 Avenue at the Common

Suite 202

Shrewsbury, NJ 07702

Teach For America

www.teachforamerica.org

Broward College

www.broward.edu/

954-201-7350

111 East Las Olas Blvd

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Fulbright Scholarship

us.fulbrightonline.org

Connections:

Connect with Harry Lopez

Website: Launch Latinx provides opportunities and support to Latinx leaders and talent build high-profitable businesses and revolutionary movements from

www.launchlatinx.co

Instagram: @theharrylopez

Instagram: @launchlatinx

Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/halopez/

Twitter: @lopezcoaching

Twitter: @theharrylopez

[Thanks/Rate/Review] Thank you so much for checking out this episode of “We Live Here Autentico”. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute and leave a quick rating and review of the show on Apple Podcasts by clicking on the link below. It will help us to keep delivering more ways to “WE” for you each week!

Music Guide:

1. Lovestained (by Hope Tala)

2. Crazy (by Hope Tala)