Archive for October 2022

Congresswoman Ann Wagner is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast, where she talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about her reelection campaign in Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District.

Wagner has represented the 2nd District since 2013. The district changed after redistricting and now contains parts of St. Louis, St. Charles and Warren counties as well as all of Franklin County.

For the past few years, Wagner has served on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. She serves as the vice ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee — and she could gain influence if she wins reelection and the GOP takes control of the House.

Wagner is running against Democrat Trish Gunby, a state representative from Ballwin. You can listen to Gunby’s Politically Speaking episode that she recorded earlier this year here.

Here’s what Wagner talked about on the show:

• Why she decided to run for reelection instead of jumping into the crowded GOP primary to replace U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt. She also discussed how the new boundaries of the 2nd District will affect her representation, especially since Franklin and Warren counties are heavily agricultural.
• Whether the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade will make the race more competitive. Gunby is against Missouri’s abortion ban and has made it a central aspect of her campaign, while Wagner contends that the economy and crime are more top of mind for 2nd District residents.
• Her support for Ukraine’s efforts to repel the Russian invasion, which she reiterated amid news reports that GOP leader Kevin McCarthy may be less inclined to support military assistance in the future.
• Whether House Republicans would be able to govern effectively, especially since it’s unclear whether the GOP will take over the Senate and the party won’t have control of the presidency.

Wagner has been a prominent figure in Missouri Republican Party politics for years. She served as chairwoman of the state GOP in the 2000s and played a major role in Blunt’s successful bid for the Senate in 2010. President George W. Bush appointed Wagner ambassador to Luxembourg in 2005.

Wagner took the plunge into electoral politics in 2012 when she ran to succeed Todd Akin in the 2nd Congressional District. Eight years ago, that district leaned decidedly Republican, and Wagner had little trouble dispatching Democratic opponents in 2014 and 2016.

But things changed in 2018 when Wagner ran against Democrat Cort VanOstran. Even though VanOstran did not have the crucial financial backing of groups like the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, he came within about 4 percentage points of unseating Wagner. Two years later, the committee backed state Sen. Jill Schupp’s bid for Congress, but Wagner won by roughly 6 percentage points.

This time around, neither national party is investing much money in the district. The addition of Franklin and Warren counties made the district more Republican, though Gunby has said that she’s up for the challenge.

Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: @jrosenbaum

Follow Ann Wagner on Twitter: @AnnLWagner

In 2019, 15th Ward Alderwoman Megan Green came in third in a close Democratic primary for president of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen.

After that experience running citywide, she was planning to sit out the 2023 contest. But when board President Lewis Reed and two other aldermen resigned after being indicted on federal corruption charges, Green’s phone started blowing up with people telling her to get into the race to replace Reed.

Among those who called was Mayor Tishaura Jones.

“It’s really hard to say no to the mayor when she’s asking you to run for a position and asking you to work with her on something,” Green said.

Either Green or her opponent, 7th Ward Alderman Jack Coatar, will have just five months to implement an agenda before the next election. Coatar talked about his on an earlier Politically Speaking podcast.

Green said her agenda includes:

• Establishing a development strategy for the city that lets developers know the level of incentives they can expect and the community benefits that will be required. Most good developers, she said, just want to make sure that everyone is playing by the same rules.
• Hiring more staff for aldermen so they are better equipped to do their jobs. Each member, she said, deserves a legislative aide and a constituent services person “so that when we have double the area of folks that are calling us about overflowing dumpsters and potholes that we have the capacity to field all those calls.”
• Changing the rules of the board to adapt to the downsizing from 28 members to 14. Everything from the number of committees to the way certain taxes are distributed is based on 28 wards, she said.

Green acknowledged that her outspokenness against people she believed were not acting in the interest of the city, including Reed, cost her some political support on the board. And she said that realistically, whoever takes over the role will be dealing with a divided body.
“But I have a background in that,” she said. “I was a Coro fellow who was trained in consensus building, and I’m optimistic that I can set the appropriate culture for the Board of Aldermen so we can rally around a collaborative legislative agenda.”

Follow Megan on Twitter: @MeganEllyia

Follow Rachel on Twitter: @rlippmann 

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is the latest guest on the Politically Speaking podcast, where he talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg about Missouri’s new law that requires a government-issued photo ID to vote.

Ashcroft also talked about his proposed rule on state library funding, which would include oversight of the material contained in libraries. Details of the rule can be found here. After Nov. 15, there will be a 30-day public comment period about making changes to the proposal.

Here’s what Ashcroft talked about on the program:

• How Missouri’s government-issued photo identification requirement works and why he thinks it will withstand judicial scrutiny.
• Missouri’s two-week period in which someone can vote in person without an excuse. Ashcroft said he doesn’t expect the new period will increase turnout, but rather change when existing voters cast their ballots.
• Why a ballot item legalizing marijuana for recreational use made it to the ballot. Ashcroft said he opposes the measure, as well as a separate issue that would convene a constitutional convention.
• Confidence in the 2022 election, and whether former President Donald Trump’s continued litigation of President Joe Biden’s victory is sowing distrust in the process.

Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: @jrosenbaum

Follow Sarah Kellogg on Twitter: @sarahkkellogg

Follow Jay Ashcroft on Twitter: @MissouriSOS

For the first time since the law went into effect, Missouri voters will have to present a valid form of photo ID in order to cast their ballot in the midterm elections.

Since the legislation did not impact the August primary election, voters could be turned away even if the form of ID they presented was accepted as recently as three months ago.

In addition to the photo ID component, the almost 60-page bill made changes to the voter registration process and changed provisions related to absentee ballots.

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking podcast, Marilyn McLeod, president of the League of Women Voters of Missouri, talked about the effects of the law and how it has already impeded the work of the league.

Here are some of the things McLeod talked about on the show:

• The overall impression the league has on the new election bill. While some elements, like two weeks of no-excuse absentee voting, are viewed positively, others are not.
• How the upcoming photo ID requirements could be confusing to voters. Some forms of ID that were accepted as recently as August, like a voter registration card, would no longer count.
• Whether the new law was needed to further secure the state’s elections. 
• How the law is affecting the league’s work in registering people to vote and other civic engagement it does around elections, like help regarding absentee ballots.
• Why the league decided to join the NAACP in filing two lawsuits against the legislation.

McLeod has been a member of the league for more than 30 years. She took over as president of the Missouri chapter in 2021.

Follow Sarah Kellogg on Twitter: @sarahkkellogg

[WLHA 009]: We Live Here Auténtico! | Gilberto Pinela |
A Star Lighting the Way for More Representation, Opportunity, Communication and Access

What does living Auténtico mean to you, Gilberto?

Be your 150 percent self in every situation that you’re in. When you walk into the room, let people know that you’re there, but that you’re there because you are being authentic to yourself. So that means that your confidence level is high. That means that not being cocky. Because that’s a different story. But it means that you are present and you are legit.

Gilberto Pinela

About Gilberto
Gilberto Pinela has been investing and empowering the Latino community in St. Louis for many years. He is a trailblazer, creator, producer and talent in many bilingual programming and organizations in our region.

Gilberto started his career in the US in New York in the hospitality industry, but he always dreamed of being in front of the camera.

In this conversation, Gilberto shares his passion and commitment to St. Louis, the Latino community and for making room for new leadership.

Mentioned in this episode:
Hispanic Chamber
Puerto Rican Society
En Breve Television Show
Gilberto Pinela & Carmen Guynn Performance Video – Dancing with the St. Louis Stars 2022
Dancing with the St. Louis Stars

Connections:
Connect with Gilberto Pinela
LinkedIn
CORTEX

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