Archive for July 2023

State Rep. Michael Burton is the latest guest on “Politically Speaking,” where he spoke about his impressions of the 2023 legislative session.

Burton is a Lakeshire Democrat who represents the state’s 92nd District. He was first elected in 2020 and reelected in 2022. His district, which takes in a slice of south St. Louis County, is split relatively evenly between Republicans and Democrats.

Here’s what Burton discussed on the show:

• His unusual entry into electoral politics, which includes being inspired to run for the St. Louis County Council after listening to an episode of “Politically Speaking” featuring then-County Councilman Pat Dolan.
• A measure Gov. Mike Parson signed into law that could penalize people for texting while driving. Burton said the proposal doesn’t go far enough, since it only allows someone to receive a ticket if they commit another traffic offense while texting and driving.
• As a member of the House Transportation Accountability Committee, Burton talked about how some Republicans want to curb the power of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission, which makes key decisions on which road projects get funded.
• His expectation that Republicans will try again in 2024 to put a proposal before voters making the state constitution more difficult to amend. 

Burton is a south St. Louis County native who was an actor before he got into politics. He first came into the public eye at council meetings, when he led a successful campaign to prevent the Tower Tee Golf Course in Affton from being converted into residential housing. Tower Tee is still open.

Burton ultimately decided to run against Dolan for County Council in 2018. But he dropped out of the race and endorsed eventual winner Lisa Clancy. He won the 92nd District House seat after Doug Beck vacated it to run for the state Senate.

Burton also serves on House committees dealing with conservation efforts and rural development.

Though the 2024 legislative session is more than five months away, the already ongoing election cycle is expected to make its mark on what and how much legislation will make it through both chambers next year.

Rep. Ashley Aune, D-Kansas City, says there is no doubt that the 2024 election will get in the way of policymaking next session.

Aune said she expects social issues to again rise to the top of debates next year and overshadow serious policy discussion.

The upcoming legislative session is only one of the topics Aune spoke about on the latest episode of Politically Speaking. She also discussed:

• Her reaction to Gov. Mike Parson vetoing around $555 million in the state’s budget for the fiscal year that began this July. Aune says she was disappointed in a lot of these vetoes but isn’t sure if lawmakers will try to override any of them in September.
• Parson’s veto of an omnibus bill carrying many criminal law provisions. Aune says she hopes the legislature is able to go back and pass again some of that legislation, including a provision that criminalizes celebratory gunfire.
• Whether Republican lawmakers will try again at passing a proposed ballot initiative that would make it harder to amend Missouri’s constitution.
• The 2024 Missouri governor’s race. Aune says she was thrilled to see House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, announce her candidacy for governor.
• Her decision to run for House minority leader since Quade is term-limited out of the House and the position after next year. 

Aune represents the 14th District, which includes part of the Kansas City Northland area.

She was first elected to the House in 2020 and currently serves as the Minority Whip for House Democrats. Aune has a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and owns a marketing agency in Kansas City.

Updated at 12:22 p.m. July 13 with comment from Treasurer Vivek Malek

Missouri Treasurer Vivek Malek will have competition next year as he seeks a full four-year term.

House Budget Chairman Cody Smith said on an episode of Politically Speaking that he will run in the GOP primary for the statewide office. The Carthage Republican said his experience leading the committee that helps craft the state’s budget sets him up well to be treasurer.

“I’ve worked a lot in fiscal policy and have had some success cutting taxes and eliminating public debt and balancing the state budget,” Smith said. “And I’d like to continue to take that experience and work on fiscal policy from the state treasurer’s office.”

Among other things, Smith touted his advocacy of tax cuts and overhauling education policy. He also said he would push for changes to Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, a tax credit program for people who donate to organizations that financially assist students.

“Most frustratingly, it gets restricted by geography,” Smith said. “So, as an example: Children who live in my hometown of Carthage do not qualify because of where they live. But 12 miles away in the city of Joplin, those children do qualify. And I think that all Missourians deserve access to a world class education, regardless of their ZIP code.”

In addition to managing the state’s financial portfolio and helping Missourians get back their unclaimed property, the state treasurer also sits on a number of boards and commissions — including the Missouri Housing Development Commission which allocates tax credits to cultivate low-income housing.

“We’re living within our means. And I’ve been able to accomplish that,” Smith said. “And so those are the things that I think I’ve done well, and I’d like to take that experience into the treasurer’s office.”

Smith will face a formidable challenge in trying to unseat Malek.

The attorney and former member of the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents has more than $1 million at his disposal between his campaign account and a political action committee.

Even though Malek is currently serving the remaining two years of this term, due to his later swearing-in date this past year, he will be able to run for two full terms as Treasurer.

“It is an honor to serve as State Treasurer. My office has been working hard for the people of Missouri, including setting a new record in returning millions in unclaimed money and property to its rightful owners. I am a proud fiscal conservative, and I look forward to earning the opportunity from Republican voters next August to be the Republican nominee for State Treasurer,” Malek said in a statement released after Smith’s announcement.

Malek will also have the backing of Gov. Mike Parson, who appointed him to the post after Scott Fitzpatrick was elected as auditor.

“I too have had success with raising money in the past and certainly have a plan of action to run a fully funded, well funded campaign,” Smith said.

Smith’s decision to primary Malek means that most of Missouri’s statewide office will have GOP primaries next year. In addition to open races for governor, lieutenant governor and secretary of state, Will Scharf is running against Attorney General Andrew Bailey in the GOP primary.

Lucas Johnson, a financial advisor from Franklin County, filed paperwork to run as a Democrat for state treasurer.

When Steve Ehlmann first won election to the Missouri House in 1988, his home base of St. Charles County had around 210,000 people.

Now, the U.S. Census projects more than 410,000 people live in the county. And it has slowly become more diverse. In the 2010s, the county welcomed thousands of new Black and Latino residents who Elhmann said wanted two things: safe neighborhoods and good schools.

“If we ever quit having good schools or if we ever start having unsafe neighborhoods, people will go somewhere else,” Ehlmann said on an episode of Politically Speaking. “And I think it’s that simple.”

Ehlmann recently announced he won’t be running for a sixth term as county executive. He cites an increasingly toxic political discourse for his decision, pointing to how the COVID-19 pandemic ratcheted up the hostility toward elected officials — even in a place like St. Charles County that had fewer restrictions than St. Louis or St. Louis County.

“Starting with the pandemic is when things really started to sour a lot,” Ehlmann said.

Despite his county’s population growth over the past several decades, Ehlmann is worried about the long-term future. He said St. Charles County’s fate is linked to the broader St. Louis region.

“In St. Charles, we’ve been growing and have been having great success,” he said. “But nobody ever started out wanting to move to St. Charles. They started out looking for a place to put their business. They thought, ‘Let’s look at the St. Louis region.’ And when they did, they said: ‘Oh, St. Charles has a lot going for it.’”

He said if the St. Louis region cannot shake its reputation for being dangerous, businesses thinking of relocating in the area may look elsewhere.

“I’m afraid now that the St. Louis region is just being crossed off their list,” Ehlmann said. “They’ll never find out about St. Charles or any of the good things happening all over the region because of the perception they have about crime.”

Here’s what else Ehlmann talked about in his interview:

• The changes in Missouri politics since he was first elected, most notably the inability of both political parties to embrace pragmatism.
• Why he doesn’t believe St. Charles County voters will want to pay into regional amenities like the Zoo Museum District or MetroLink. Getting St. Charles County residents to help directly fund those endeavors would require a successful countywide adoption of tax increases.
• How the pandemic made it more difficult to build relationships with regional leaders, especially after most communication went virtual.
• Advice for whoever succeeds him as county executive once he departs from office after 2026.

Ehlmann is an attorney who, in addition to serving in the Missouri House, was a member of the state Senate from 1993 to 2001 — eventually becoming minority leader.

After serving as a judge, Ehlmann became the director of administration for St. Charles County. He won the executive’s post in 2006 and was subsequently elected in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.

In addition to his judicial and political service, Ehlmann worked as a teacher. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in history.