NEWS RELEASE

Contact:     Kellie Freeman-Rohrbaugh

Phone:        417-886-8980

Cell:            417-894-4413

ExecDirector@gcmodemocrats.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Greene County Democratic Committee Hires Executive Director

GCDCC has hired Kellie Freeman-Rohrbaugh, as Executive Director.  Beginning June 1, she will assist the Democratic volunteers and candidates with campaigns and programs in the Greene County area.

“I am honored to work with my fellow Democrats to create a community in which hard-working families have access to the healthcare and support that they deserve,” Freeman-Rohrbaugh said. “As we build on the foundation laid down by generations of Democrats, we will elect more Democrats locally and statewide.”

Art Kessler is the Chairman of the Greene County Democratic Central Committee.

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Missouri Governor Jay Nixon announced Compere’s appointment as Treasurer Feb. 3. The position was left vacant when former Treasurer John Hoffman resigned Dec. 10, 2010. Justin Hill, Greene County Chief Deputy Auditor, has served as Interim Treasurer since Dec. 13.

Compere will serve the remainder of Hoffman’s term, which expires Dec. 31, 2012.

The Oath of Office ceremony will be brief, followed by a reception in the Rotunda, and is open to the public.

For media inquiries, call Jenny Fillmer Edwards, Greene County Public Information Officer, at 417-829-6019 or 417-224-5510.

Jail crowding and staffing, a new 911 center, and development issues highlight the debate in the race for presiding Greene County commissioner, which pits two political veterans against each other, along with a third-party candidate.

Incumbent Dave Coonrod, presiding commissioner since 1994 and a Democrat, said he is focused on maintaining good fiscal management of the county during tough economic times.

Challenger Jim Viebrock, a Republican who served eight years as a state lawmaker, said he wants to ensure the sheriff and jail have enough manpower and resources.

Libertarian candidate Mark Jones has never held public office, but hopes to bring a limited-government theme to the county.

Tapping the brakes

First elected to the Greene County Commission in 1988, Coonrod said he has been pleased with the rapport he has with fellow commissioners Harold Bengsch and Roseann Bentley — both of whom are Republicans.

He talked both into standing with him for a photo on a campaign billboard with the words “Tried and True.”

“This is probably the best commission I’ve ever worked with because of the unique talents that are brought to bear by everyone involved,” Coonrod said.

The county has managed to avoid layoffs or furloughs because of the cooperative spirit among the commissioners and county employees, he said.

When county sales tax revenue began to drop two years ago, Coonrod said the three commissioners met with county staff and elected officials “to tap the brakes and slow down our spending.”

“Everybody, pretty amazingly, went along with it,” Coonrod recalled.

“Because we had seen this so early, we were able to address the budget gap so when we hit 2009 we had already begun bracing for a funding shortfall.”

A key cost saving still in place is a modified hiring freeze.”We know critical positions can’t just be at a standstill,” he said. “If we lose a correctional officer or a patrol officer we have to replace those people.”

Public safety

Coonrod said the county needs more deputy patrols and more staffing at the jail. But until revenues begin flowing again, that will be difficult.

In the short term, Coonrod said rotating Springfield police recruits through the jail to bolster staffing will help.

And he is encouraging local judges to consider alternative sentencing methods — ankle bracelets and home arrest for nonviolent offenders — to help reduce jail overcrowding.

Land use plan

Coonrod acknowledged that a proposed land use plan caused an uproar a few years back.

Spurred by a move for more locally grown food, the commission sought to identify the best farming areas in the county and mark them as agricultural preserves, where urban development would be limited.

“People did not like the approach,” Coonrod said. “They wanted everything to be market driven insofar as what they could do with their property.”

After lengthy public review, Coonrod said the commission adopted the land use plan — minus any farmland set-asides.

“We adopted it, with the agreement we’d come back in five years and look at things.”

Roads and development

The controversial 500-acre 60-65 Partnership Development in southeast Springfield has angered county residents, who fear a four-lane road will be built through their rural properties.

Coonrod said the county held numerous public hearings about the issue before sending it to the Ozarks Transportation Organization for further review.

“My position all along has been let’s take our time and make sure that this is needed,” he said. “We want to let the process run its course and let OTO have its say on this.”

Animal issues

The county looked into establishing an animal control operation a few years ago to deal with dumped dogs, but Coonrod said it would cost upward of $2 million.

“I will tell you I don’t think voters now or in the near future will have any inclination to support raising revenues by taxing themselves further – for anything,” he said.

A tea party supporter is challenging state Rep. Charlie Norr, D-Springfield, in his bid for a third two-year term to represent northwest Springfield in the Missouri House of Representatives.

“The Constitution, state sovereignty and the Bill of Rights are important to us,” said Melissa Leach, a 50-year-old professional fundraiser who grabbed the Republican nomination in a landslide primary victory in August.

Norr, a 66-year-old retired firefighter and paramedic, is building his campaign on social justice, particularly for residents in his district — one of the poorest in the state.

“There’s a need for someone like me to represent them,” Norr said. “People should be treated fairly by the state and respected by the law.”

The two candidates differ sharply on the role of the government.

Leach believes in personal responsibility and speaks against more government regulations.

“More regulation is not the answer,” she said.

Norr said the government has a regulatory function to protect the vulnerable.

“We need strong regulations and better government,” Norr said.

Norr on offensive

Norr is not pleased with the tea party movement.

“They want to eliminate Social Security and Medicare, which they are surviving on,” Norr said, calling the pair the federal government’s two most successful programs.

“There are people who want to take us 100 years back or more,” Norr said.

Norr said he is disgusted with political posturing, joking some politicians in Jefferson City rival soap stars in performance.

“It’s like watching the ‘Days of Our Lives,’ ” Norr said sarcastically.

But Norr is serious about his job as a lawmaker.

As a member of the minority party, Norr said he has worked hard for social justice for Missourians, trying to help them with health care and protecting them from the unscrupulous.

Norr, first elected to the House in 2006, serves on committees dealing with public safety, senior citizen advocacy, veterans, professional registration and licensing and public employee retirement.

In the past four years, Norr has sponsored and co-sponsored dozens of bills.

Of them, one bill helps extend unemployment benefits to workers on furlough, and another helps families with autistic children get payments from insurance companies, Norr said.

Norr has supported regulating payday loans, arguing the practice is hurting those in need and that the state should work with banks and credit unions for a better alternative.

He said he favors fair wage and that the state should request anyone receiving state funding to pay workers the prevailing wage.

“We need to create a strong middle class,” Norr said.

As for the state budget, Norr supports cutting wasteful expenditures and making the government more efficient.

He said he voted against creating a new state symbol, because he believed the state could save costs associated with the symbol.

He supported the end to printing Missouri’s Official Manual, commonly known as the Blue Book, to save money.

Some tax credits, such as those for adoption, are good, but Norr said big businesses receiving tax credits should be held accountable.

The state should support K-12 education and its public colleges, Norr said.

“We cannot balance our budget on the back of the needy,” Norr said, adding college graduates already are burdened with heavy student loans.

Leach makes case

Leach, who received public assistance when she lost her job and had a small child to raise, believes personal responsibility and limited, fiscally responsible government are the best answers to today’s economic ailments.

“I support limited government,” said Leach, who is running for public office for the first time.

“Let people at the local level come up with solutions,” Leach said.

The government should stick to its basic functions of providing public safety and building infrastructure, the Republican candidate said.

Over-regulation limits individual liberty and stifles businesses, Leach said, arguing private persons and businesses will thrive and prosper when they can take charge.

“I think we’ve got plenty of regulations,” she said.

To create jobs, the state should foster a business-friendly environment by reducing regulations and working for tax reform.

Local communities should engage themselves and explore solutions, such as how best to educate their children, Leach said.

Public assistance is a safety net, but it is more important to teach people how to make money and earn a living than to give them handouts, Leach said.

She also wants to see the role of churches restored, so they can offer assistance such as treatment programs.

“Let them reach out,” she said. “Let the church be the church.”

Leach, who spoke against tax credits during the primary, no longer rejects them completely, though she still does not favor those tax incentives.

“I believe tax credits is a symptom,” she said. “Let’s work through the system to get to the root of the problem so that government is taken out of the position of picking winner and losers in the private sector.”

Leach said she opposes creating new taxes or raising taxes.

“Let’s make government more effective and more efficient,” Leach said.

He said “the general public hates him.” He said Coonrod “made a fool of himself” at a meeting of the Missouri Association of Counties.

He has called Coonrod “out of ideas” and “ready to quit” as Greene County Commissioner. He accused Coonrod of approving a “Taj Mahal” of a new county building.

Then, surprisingly, at the end of a recent interview with us and his two opponents, Viebrock apologized to Coonrod and said:

“I actually respect the guy. He’s done a decent job as our presiding commissioner.”

Huh?

Decent, according to our dictionary, means “satisfactory,” even “good.”

We agree with Viebrock on this front. That’s why we’re endorsing Coonrod.

The long-time county leader is running against Viebrock, a term-limited state representative, and Libertarian Mark Jones, who has come to be a refreshing voice in county politics as he consistently pushes for less government.

Viebrock’s zingers show he’s good at starting a fight. We’re not so sure he’s adept at resolving disputes.

Coonrod can.

In a long career with the county, he has shown the ability to cohesively work with other officials to encourage progress — despite serving as a Democrat flanked by two Republican associate commissioners.

The three commissioners listened to citizen complaints, took more time to study restrictions and made revisions. Sometimes sparks fly en route to hammering out that kind of high-profile, complicated consensus.

Coonrod also has faced criticism for a trait we believe has been more of an asset than a liability.

He gets his dander up; he speaks his mind; he doesn’t suffer what he sees as unfairness.

Viebrock calls it “embarrassing.” We see it as passion that, at times and perhaps for good reason, turns fiery.

Coonrod obviously cares.

And, working with associates Roseann Bentley and Harold Bengsch, he can boast of a record of progress: upgrading county facilities, encouraging county employees to come forth with ideas for cuts to respond to the current economic crisis, enforcing standards in development and growth, highlighting water needs and joining forces with other area entities to spur economic development.

Viebrock certainly poses a clear alternative in this election. He’s worked hard. He’s made his stances clear.

But this assessment of the race from Coonrod is worth repeating:

Referring to this election as happening at an “opportune” time, he sees this as a “crossroads” for county residents. He added: “How they vote will determine what direction Greene County takes, absolutely.”

As Viebrock himself eventually admitted, we think that direction has been sound, despite significant economic challenges.

Coonrod has helped set that direction. Give him your vote of confidence to continue.

Michael Hoeman makes a compelling case for the citizen legislator.

He talks persuasively of the value to society when someone like him decides to step away from an established career and enter government.

We’re convinced.

He’d do a good, aggressive job and bring fresh ideas to the Missouri Senate. He gets our support in his race against term-limited state representative Bob Dixon for the 30th District Senate seat.

While Dixon certainly deserves kudos for some of his work during his eight years as a member of the House, he shared few new thoughts or hopes with us — particularly in the area of job creation. He also was not specific about how he would reach one of his goals: reducing the size and scope of government.

We’d be remiss if we did not make note of Dixon’s sincerity and his efforts to stay in touch with the community. We have appreciated his contributions to public service. But he showed a lack of energy at a time when fresh ideas are sorely needed.

Few would disagree that keen and immediate attention must come in Jefferson City in two major areas: health care and education.

Listening to Hoeman speak about his time serving on the Springfield School Board, on local and state medical boards and in business as a health care provider shows a depth of knowledge of health care and education issues not possessed by many already working in the state capital.

Hoeman also speaks pragmatically, especially when it comes to how state leaders ought to spur economic development and more openly debate controversial subjects.

In response to a question about the worst action he’s seen by the state’s leaders, he said: “They’ve demonized the concept of looking at revenue as opposed to merely cutting our way out of our … situation. Any discussion of new revenue is simply off the table.”

He’s not pushing new taxes. But he cites better enforcement of the tax code as well as a careful look at the impact of tax credits as examples of important moves legislators must be willing to make — without re-election foremost in their minds.

We agree there, too.

Likewise, we believe Hoeman has pragmatic thoughts about 1) studying the ways surrounding states have been successful in luring businesses 2)recognizing that proper funding for education spurs economic development 3) preparing “to implement data-driven, cost effective practices to optimize our healthcare dollars” and 4) applying leadership and consensus-building skills to make the Springfield area’s political clout more commensurate with its economic impact statewide.

Big challenges.

But Hoeman speaks confidently, methodically and specifically. He also stresses that, as he watches state-level lawmakers maneuver year after year, big problems persist.

“We can’t change things by sending the same people back all the time,” he said.

Many candidates this season speak about the need to invigorate stale government bodies with an infusion of citizens with real-life experience. Hoeman, because of the interest and experience he has honed, makes the case.

He would be more than a citizen-legislator.

He would be an active-informed-involved-citizen-turned-lawmaker. Voters in the 30th ought to give him that opportunity.

Didi Tang• News-Leader • October 20, 2010

A political neophyte is challenging a longtime politician in the race for state senator in the 20th District.

Democratic candidate Terry L. Traw, 56, hopes voters will choose him over Jay Wasson, 53, a Republican who has spent the past 13 years as an elected official and cannot seek another term as state representative because of term limits.

“There are problems that need to be fixed in the state, and I can fix them,” said Traw.

Wasson hopes his record — particularly in the past eight years as a state representative — will convince district voters to send him back to Jefferson City.

“I’ve been effective for my area. I’ve been effective for my state,” Wasson said.

If elected, Traw or Wasson will replace state Sen. Dan Clemens, R-Marshfield, who has served two four-year terms.

The 20th district covers Douglas, Webster, Christian and Greene counties outside of Springfield.

Background

Before he graduated from Central High, Traw, a son of a hotel night clerk, worked for Safeway Grocery Stores first as a bag boy then moving up to head clerk.

When the stores closed, Traw joined a food brokerage company and eventually became a partner.

In 1994, Traw started a business in collectibles.

In the campaign, he has described Wasson as “privileged.”

Wasson’s late mother, Edna Wasson, was a longtime postmaster for Nixa and was the town’s first female mayor.

Wasson, who inherited 200 acres of family farmland, became a real estate developer in his early 20s. He subdivided the land, which is now Wasson Place with about 400 homes.

“My opponent wants to paint me as a Richie Rich, that’s not so,” Wasson said. “I’ve worked hard.”

He dropped out of college when his father died and was faced with paying an inheritance tax, Wasson said.

At age 19, Wasson said, he built his first home.

In the early 1990s, Wasson said he owned and managed a motel for seven years.

Now, he is developing a 12,000-square-foot office center off U.S. 160 in Nixa.

At the same time, Wasson said he has been active in public service.

He was appointed to the Nixa park board at age 21 and later served on the planning and zoning commission before he was elected to the town’s board of aldermen and later mayor.

On the issues

Traw, who describes himself as an independent Truman Democrat, shares some values with Wasson.

Both have permits to carry concealed weapons, and both say they are anti-abortion and support restrictions on abortion.

But Wasson and Traw disagree on tax issues.

Traw believes taxes — especially the state income tax — should be based on the ability to pay, favoring measures on a sliding scale that place heavier tax burdens on the rich.

Wasson said the state does not have a tax issue but a spending problem.

“Can we provide the same service at less cost?” Wasson asked. “Is the service we provide essential?”

He said higher taxes would hurt small business owners, who would be reluctant to invest in their businesses.

“I just think a lot of people are hanging on there, by the skin of their teeth, small business people,” Wasson said. “… If you start raising taxes, that’s rough.”

Retorted Traw: “If you are making $1 million a year, I don’t think you are just hanging on.”

Traw criticized Wasson for supporting the fair tax, a tax plan that Traw said would abolish all taxes except a uniform sales tax levied on all goods and services, including house purchases and medical services.

“Jay wants to tax everything,” Traw said, pointing out the fair tax will hurt middle-income families.

He said the fair tax would have a detrimental effect on the housing market.

“It will absolutely kill the real estate market in Missouri,” Traw said.

Wasson said the idea deserves discussion.

“(Fair tax) is not the sole answer … but it certainly deserves discussion on the floor,” Wasson said.

Traw said he would support both an Internet sales tax and a higher tobacco tax.

Traw, who sells antiques and collectibles online, said the state loses at least $200 million a year in sales tax dollars from not taxing online purchases.

Wasson said he is OK with an online sales tax.

“I will vote for it, but it’s not a budget fixer,” Wasson said. “It’s a fairness issue.”

Wasson initially said he supported a higher tobacco tax but added later he would favor it only if it did not hurt state revenue.

Jobs

To revitalize the state economy, Traw has proposed a MO Jobs Bond program.

In his proposal, the state would borrow money from its citizens by distributing low-denomination, high-yield, tax-exempt industrial revenue bonds to savers and investors.

The proceeds, paired with quality job tax credits, would help Missouri businesses to expand and create more jobs, Traw said.

For job growth, Wasson said he would favor tax credits across the board but especially for small businesses.

“We need to allow them to plow the money back to their businesses and hire more people,” Wasson said.

Wasson agrees with tea party supporters that the government has grown too big and is trying to do everything instead of doing “a few things really good.”

The government must provide public safety and build infrastructure, but it is overreaching when the government tries to regulate health care, Wasson said.

Missouri Department of Natural Resources also is overreaching with its environmental rules and regulations, Wasson said.

“The marketplace can work itself out,” he said. “In most cases, when we talk about regulations, most time small businesses cannot afford those regulations.”

However, Wasson is proud of some of his regulatory efforts.

Last year, Wasson said he rewrote the state statute regarding the funeral industry and successfully placed restrictions on pre-need contracts and services offered by funeral homes.

“We’ve got to some some regulations, and that’s one of them,” Wasson said.

His legislative efforts don’t contradict with his philosophy against regulations, because he does not automatically turn to regulations for answer, Wasson said.

Traw has criticized Wasson for working for special interests, noting Wasson’s campaign contributions often can be linked to his legislative efforts in Jefferson City.

Wasson said the contributors approve of his work that is already done.

The donors do not expect special favors from him, Wasson said.

One of the biggest obstacles the two people running for Greene County recorder of deeds face is explaining the job.

“I had a gentleman actually ask me if it really mattered who the recorder was,” said Republican candidate Cheryl Dawson. “He said, ‘It’s just a bunch of paper, how bad can you screw that up?’ Well, you can really screw it up. When you can’t find that document, we become really important.”

The recorder of deeds is responsible for a variety of public documents — from real estate paperwork to tax liens and marriage licenses to military discharges.

“People don’t know what (the office) is until they need us,” Dawson said.

For the past 26 years, Linda Montgomery has held some position in Greene County government — from an executive secretary, an office manager and finally recorder for the past 16 years. Both Dawson and Larry Maddox said they decided to run for the office after Montgomery announced her retirement.

“I didn’t want to run against the incumbent, because she has truly done a good job with the recorder’s office,” Maddox said.

Cheryl Dawson touts her 18 years in the office as one of her strong points. She said she has worked every position and has spent the last eight years as the chief deputy/operations manager.

Outside of work, Dawson is a single mother of two, but she says those skills she’s learned as a parent also make her a good manager.

“One of the things I’ve learned in the five years I’ve been a single parent is how to budget,” she said. “I think that it’s a skill that I can carry with me.”

Dawson said she’s happy with how the office currently works, especially how well the staff works with each other and the public.

“We’ve really got a good system in place. That’s not to say there won’t be changes, because that’s constantly evolving with technology,” she said.

Maddox says he’s the best for the job because of his years working with recorder offices in other counties. He says he can provide a fresh perspective on office policies.

“I think the recorder’s office needs a new set of eyes, because you can look at something for so long and not necessarily see the pros and the cons,” he said.

He said he’d like to make the office more user-friendly.

“You expand the money you make by being more user-friendly and easily accessible,” he said.

He’d also like to add a staff person who can speak English and Spanish if the future budget situation would allow it. He said having a bilingual staffer would help communication and ease frustration from both sides when trying to explain complicated documents.

Maddox has been in Springfield since 1994, and says he now considers Springfield his home.

He has a long list of volunteer and public service positions, including former president of the NAACP’s Springfield chapter, member of the Vision 20/20 committee and member of the Springfield Civilian Police Appeals Board.

He said his goal in public service was to represent those who wouldn’t have otherwise had a say.

“Sometimes if you don’t have a voice or a vote, the process tends to go in a direction without thinking about anybody else,” he said.

Although he’s proud of his service to minorities in Springfield, he doesn’t want to be considered just an African-American candidate.

“I think the thing I need people to remember, not so much that I’m African-American, but that I’m qualified,” he said.

October 18, 2010

The last time we endorsed Sara Lampe in this space, we credited her with healthy skepticism.

With that trait needed now as much as ever in Jefferson City, and Lampe continuing in her aggressive questioning of policy and proposals, we offer new support for the incumbent Democrat in the 138th.

She faces two challengers.

Although Republican John Sellars appears to be campaigning strongly, he did not share with us enough specific opinions or plans to assess his potential effectiveness as a legislator.

Also during our meeting, he had a chance to question Lampe’s six-year legislative record but chose not to be specific. Yet, he’s now complaining loudly through a negative TV ad about some of her votes.

Independent Steven Reed, a well-known critic of city government, came into the race late and is pushing economic development through technology parks as what seems to be his sole issue.

Lampe has taken stances — some controversial — on many fronts over the years, but explains how she came to those positions using factual information and research. A former teacher, she also continues to passionately advocate for appropriate education funding.

As has been her style, however, she speaks of education as a key piece to a complicated puzzle, not as a standalone issue.

We support that type of nuanced discussion. We think it’s essential to effective lawmaking. We encourage Lampe — should she win her fourth and final term on Nov. 2 — to not only continue her approach but build bridges with other legislators of similar ilk, especially across party lines.

Asked about her plan to help the economy, she started with a plea for more education and continued:

“We have a great opportunity for workers be retrained here locally. And I know what brings jobs and businesses to Missouri is quality of life. That includes clean water. That includes clean air. That includes freedom from racism. And that includes children who are safe in school and safe in their communities.”

“If we’re talking about attracting people or having businesses improve, it’s bigger than just one small thing.”

Spoken like a legislator who has seen complicated, intertwined efforts collide over the years in the House of Representatives. If reelected, she’ll be the ranking Democrat on the House budget committee.

Her kind of experience, when embraced and understood by an aggressive representative, can certainly enhance effectiveness.

Lampe continues to try to wield influence, raise questions and make a difference, though a member of the minority party. We think she deserves two more years at that important job.

Democrat, GOP officials pose; opponent slams “subliminal message.”

Wes Johnson • News-Leader • October 12, 2010

Although they aren’t endorsing him, two Republican Greene County commissioners stand shoulder to shoulder with Democrat Dave Coonrod on his campaign billboard in Springfield.

The slogan: “Tried and True.”

Coonrod, presiding Greene County commissioner since 1994, said the billboard was intended to show “we all feel like we work well together. We make a good team.”

“Bipartisanship — what a concept.” Coonrod said Monday. “We have a bipartisan county commission which works and functions well.”

Coonrod is being challenged by former state Rep. Jim Viebrock, a Republican.

Viebrock questioned whether Associate Commissioners Harold Bengsch and Roseann Bentley were aware that the sign might be seen as their endorsement of someone from the other party.

“I think that was Dave’s intent,” Viebrock said. “It was to send a subliminal message that it’s OK to be a Republican and vote for him. It’s not OK. He does not represent conservative Republican values, he’s a liberal Democrat. You can paint an apple blue, but it’s still an apple.”

Bengsch recounted how he landed on the billboard with Coonrod.

“David asked me if I’d endorse him, and I said, no, I can’t do that,” Bengsch recalled.

“He came back and said he’d like to do a picture with us, and I said it would depend on what the sign says.”

Bengsch rejected several of Coonrod’s proposed slogans, but said he wouldn’t object to “Tried and True.”

“No, it’s not an endorsement. But I do think the county commission has worked in a bipartisan manner. I know what the intention of my heart was.”

Bentley said she has gotten some flak from some Republicans.

“I’ve caught some, I won’t deny it,” she said. “But I’ve also got some compliments from the Republican side. I wouldn’t go further with it than I did.”

She said Coonrod asked if fellow commissioners would appear with him in a TV campaign ad.

“I said no,” Bentley recalled.

But she had no qualms about the billboard.

“People are looking for people who can work together,” Bentley said. “I think it’s an endorsement of the team — the three of us. We work well together and have been able to accomplish some good things for the county.”

Viebrock said he believed the billboard has backfired.

“It’s working well as a campaign tool for me,” he said. “Lots of folks in the GOP are angry about it and it’s spurring them to get out and support me.”

Danette Proctor, chair of the Greene County Republican Party, declined to comment about Coonrod’s billboard — or the Republican commissioners standing with him.

“Our party is behind Jim Viebrock,” she said.