Published in the April 10 Leader
Last week we explored the “Leave It To Beaver” aspect of the 2014 elections. That was fun, but it only touched the surface of what voters must decide in August and November.
There are spirited races all over the ballot. With the emancipation of Jefferson County’s Republicans over the last four or five years, we now don’t necessarily determine the next set of officeholders in August.
Used to be, the Democratic primary decided that. August doesn’t decide anything now, unless you believe the winner will automatically come out of the Republican primary. The county probably hasn’t turned that completely around – yet. And that’s good – more real races, more choices.
Four years ago, in 2010, the Republicans roared, capturing seats they’d never owned. The biggest shocker was former county Treasurer Ken Waller beating then-Assessor Randy Holman for county executive. Republicans also won the recorder of deeds office when Debbie Dunnegan ousted longtime Democratic incumbent Marlene Castle.
The Republican romp was even stronger in the statehouse, where three Democratic incumbent state reps from Jefferson County were sent packing. Interestingly, two of them – Jeff Roorda of Barnhart and Michael Frame of Eureka – got back in at the next election in 2012, and this year Roorda faces the man who unseated him in 2010, state Rep. Paul Wieland, in the race to replace Ryan McKenna in the Missouri Senate.
It’s expected that the opening ante to run in that race – with no primary opponent for either man – will be at least $500,000 to win a job that pays $35,915 per year.
(Consider that price tag as we ponder the 5-to-4 vote from the U.S. Supreme Court last week that basically said that money equals free speech, and if a gazillionaire wants to spend a gazillion or two helping his favorite candidate or party, he or she can.
What wasn’t said was that the more money you have, the more free speech you can enjoy! That, and we don’t need no stinkin’ campaign finance reform.)
The Jefferson County Council races in 2010 also were a romp for Republicans. They won six of the seven seats, missing a clean sweep, possibly, for failing to field a candidate in District 6, though the lone unchallenged Democrat, Cliff Lane of De Soto, was a well-known and respected businessman who was re-elected two years later.
There were five Democratic county officeholders who were not challenged in the 2010 general election: Circuit Clerk Howard Wagner, County Clerk Wes Wagner (Howard’s son), Auditor Dorothy Stafford, Collector Beth Mahn and Prosecuting Attorney Forrest Wegge.
Remember, filings closed in March for a general election that wasn’t contested until November. In the interim in 2010, we had the rise of the Tea Party and the Republican surge.
The day after the election, Wes Wagner assessed the situation.
“If they had just had a name oppose ours on the ballot, we’d all have been gone,” he said.
Now, four years later, Howard Wagner is retiring but three of the four incumbents who had free rides in 2010 have Republican challengers in 2014. The GOP wasn’t going to make that mistake twice. Only Wegge has no Republican challenger again.
So democracy blossomed once again when the dust cleared on filing deadline day. In some places it bloomed furiously, such as in District 7 of the County Council, where five (count ’em!) Republicans are vying for the chance to succeed Kelly Waymon, who chose not to seek a second four-year term.
If you had canvassed the district 20 years ago, it might have been hard to find five admitted Republicans, let alone five candidates.
We have some familiar names, like Avery Fortenberry of Barnhart, who has run for practically everything you can run for – county commissioner, water board, county executive, Jefferson College Board of Trustees – you name it – and who is back for his second try at becoming a state rep.
The irrepressible Sam Rauls of Hillsboro, former county commissioner and public administrator, has filed for county executive on the Democratic side. Republican Chris Borgerson of Festus, like Fortenberry another multi-timer who has yet to win, also is running for executive, but in the Republican primary.
Charles Huey of Arnold is not just a multi-time candidate but a multi-party one. He is currently a Democrat and running for County Council, District 3.
Some of these candidates, undoubtedly, are not really in it to win it. However, give them credit, at the minimum, for adding a little color to the proceedings and giving voters a wider range of choices.
Add in a few contested races for committeeman and committeewoman – which are basically club officers – and we have a freedom festival, a democracy demo, a celebration of self-determination.
Let freedom vote. And, of course, write a check for a gazillion to your favorite candidate.
