Mid-Missouri feels the impact of term limits in a big way by Kris Hilgedick

Published: Sunday, May 31, 2009 9:20 AM CDT khil@newstribune.com With five men interested in Missouri's 6th Senate District, it's possible the Republican primary next summer could be hard-fought and even contentious. The seat currently is occupied by Sen. Carl Vogel, R-Jefferson City, who faces term-limits. Of those five potential candidates, three - Rep. Mark Bruns, R-Wardsville, Rep. Kenny Jones, R-Clarksburg, and Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce Chairman Harry Otto - are actively campaigning. Rep. Bill Deeken, R-Jefferson City, said he's been encouraged to run by supporters, but likely won't announce a decision formally until the fall. Although he initially ruled out a Senate campaign, Deeken said: "I've been getting a lot of calls that have caused me to change my mind." And, speculation continues to swirl around Mike Kehoe, owner of the local Ford and Lincoln-Mercury dealerships and a member of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission. When asked, he said: "I'm not officially running. But I'm always interested in doing things for Jefferson City ... and looking at ways to be involved in Central Missouri." According to Missouri Transportation Department legal staff, no specific law or regulation prevents a commissioner from campaigning for elected office while continuing to serve. Otto, a certified public accountant and a member-owner in the firm, Williams-Keepers LLC, enjoys Vogel's support. On the campaign trail, Otto is publicizing his 40 years of public accounting experience and the time he has spent in the Missouri Capitol, working on behalf of the Missouri Society of CPAs. "I'm going to assist Harry, especially in the outlying areas," said Vogel, noting he appreciates Otto's familiarity with the state's complicated tax code and his civic-minded volunteerism. To be sure, with more than a year left to go until Election Day, it's early to discuss the race. However, some of the candidates already are positioning themselves financially. The filing period for the race starts on Feb. 23, 2010, and closes March 30. The election is scheduled for Aug. 3, more than a year away. "It's too early," said Deeken. "People, donors, are still trying to recover from the last election cycle." Like Vogel in the Senate, Bruns and Deeken also will have served their eight years in the House and face term limits. Jones will have served six years and could seek one more two-year term, but believes the timing to run for the state Senate is best now, when no incumbent holds the seat. Deeken is disturbed by the thought of a bitterly fought Republican primary. He said all five men enjoy amicable relationships with one another now, and he's worried a hard-fought primary will fracture those ties. "We're all very good friends," he said. Bruns said, "I would call every one a very good friend." And, Deeken suggested, "What we need to do is eliminate it down to one." He wouldn't mind having all five potential candidates "get in a room and talk about it." When asked about the possibility of avoiding an expensive primary, Kehoe replied: "It's a long time between now and 2010. It's a long time for folks to figure that out." Otto suggested: "I think the voters could resent a backroom deal where the candidate is selected by unknown players." A good candidate must raise adequate funds, Deeken said, but he doesn't plan to raise the $400,000 some people say is needed to win the primary. He doesn't believe large sums of money necessarily sway voters. "I think it's wrong to spend that kind of money when we could put it to better use," Deeken said. "Could I win it on less? I don't know." He added: "I'm not taking it to see if I could win it. I'd take it to see if I can make a difference." Remarking on fundraising, Kehoe said: "You always need resources to run a campaign. But your message and how you connect to voters is as important" as money. Will an expensive primary hurt the Republican Party? Otto thinks "no," but added: "As long as candidates don't violate the 11th commandment: 'Thou shalt not speak ill of thy Republican brethren.' But if a hard-fought primary is followed by a hard-fought general election, it could soften up a candidate for a knock-out blow. "But I don't see that happening here." To date, no Democrat has stepped forward to announce an interest in filing. "The election is a long way off," said Thomas Minihan, vice-chair of the Cole County Democratic Central Committee. "It's a big decision and one people don't take lightly. People are weighing their options right now." Otto said it's not inevitable the Republican primary will turn negative. "Every potential candidate I know of is an honorable man," he said. But he agreed sometimes political action groups send out abrasive direct mailings the candidate doesn't control. "It's up to the candidate to reign in their supporters," Otto said. Bruns noted sometimes those messages are beyond the candidate's control. But he added he's been involved in four elections and he's never "gone negative" in any of them. "I don't plan to change that," he said. When asked if they were "social" conservatives or "moderate" conservatives, most of the candidates preferred hedged responses. In the past Deeken has championed causes that occasionally break with party principles. Although he supports the death penalty, he asked his colleagues to support a moratorium so it could be studied. Although he approves of voter ID, he challenged party leaders when they wanted to institute the practice prior to the 2006 U.S. Senate race. "I'm very conservative," replied Deeken. "But I know, and it's been proven, Republicans don't do everything right all of the time. I do what I think is right for the 35,000 people in my district. We are servants of the people, not the party. The people pay us, not the party." Deeken deems it a strength he garners Democratic support sometimes. "I've earned the respect of people who might not agree with me on every issue," he said. Bruns also has broken with House leaders on some issues. Most recently, he vocally supported a plan to fund health insurance for 35,000 low-income working parents. Under the plan, hospitals agreed to share funds in order to draw down federal matching funds. Bruns described himself as a "social conservative." But he noted a "social conservative" from Central Missouri is a different sort of politician than one from southwest Missouri, where elected officials are more prone to emphasizing gun rights and pro-life positions. Kehoe refused to categorize himself: "I'm a conservative, but you also have to be a Missourian. You have to represent the values of the people in that district, if you run." When asked where he fell along the political spectrum, Otto replied: "I have a considerable amount of compassion for my fellow man who needs help. I have less compassion for those who don't want to help themselves." Jones said he was raised in a Christian home that emphasized hard work. "You work until the job is done, not until you're tired. The traditional family values were instilled in me very strongly. I think that is what will keep American strong - family ties." Jones attends First Christian Church of California. The other four - Kehoe, Bruns, Deeken and Otto - are Catholics. Some of the candidates think it is possible the candidates from Jefferson City could dilute the Cole County vote, giving Jones a strong edge in the race. "It's simple math," said Bruns. Vogel doesn't think the 6th District race will be either more or less contentious than any other across the state. He said 10 senators - almost a third of the 34-member body - face term limits in 2010. (Of those 10, eight are Republicans and two are Democrats.) "In every one of those races, there will be a big field," he said. ions for all students, the teachers are able to spend the time in the classroom teaching and working with the students."0. (Of those 10, eight are Republicans and two are Democrats.) "In every one of those races, there will be a big field," he said. http://MissouriNetizen.com http://www.bransonedge.com http://www.bransonmissouri.missourinetizen.com