Independent governor candidate Turilli makes stop in Cape

Independent gubernatorial candidate Lester Turilli of Stanton, Missouri, made an informal stop Friday in Cape Girardeau as part of a statewide tour.

Turilli, a political newcomer, cites his 25 years of executive management experience as his top gubernatorial quality.

Turilli works for Meramec Caverns, his family’s longtime business and the largest commercial cave in Missouri.

“Often people say, ‘You don’t have the political experience,’ but I have the executive experience, which is what you need in that position,” he said.

It also is why Turilli chose to run as an independent, which he admitted is more difficult, because campaign funding is limited.

But the political neutrality is good, he said, because he doesn’t serve any special interests.

“I believe that with the current state of politics nationally and statewide, the door’s open for someone such as myself who genuinely represents the people,” he said.

Although Turilli has described himself as fiscally conservative, he admits some of his other qualities are more liberal, including his love of people and passion for protecting the vulnerable.

“I think it’s important for a leader to be a voice for the voiceless,” he said.

While Turilli identifies as pro-life, he said he’s in favor of developing stronger support systems and abortion alternatives for pregnant women that will prevent them from struggling after they give birth.

“This is a lifetime choice, whichever way you go,” he said.

His stance also is pro-education because his wife is a teacher. Because of that, he said he believes schools should be a constant investment around the state.

“Our school districts are not fully funded; they’ve been held back,” he said.

While Turilli makes no secret of his Christian faith, he said he would not force it on anyone, nor should it have a place in politics.

“But I do believe that faith does,” he said.

Turilli — whose most recognizable campaign signs say “Les is More” — also holds a strong interest in serving as a bridge between the partisan divide in state politics.

“I’ve got one hand extended to the left and one hand extended to the right,” he said.

If elected governor in November, Turilli said his goal is to communicate more with legislators from every camp not only to foster consensus on policy, but to build a trust he said is lacking among the government and the governed. He referred to the general feeling of distrust as stemming from the “two-party antics” he’s heard about from constituents across the state.

Typically, Turilli said, Democratic or Republican legislators will promote a particular bill during the state legislative session, even knowing the governor will be against it.

“But they push it anyway,” he said.

Instead, he has suggested to legislators as he’s been campaigning he would like to sit down with them before they draft bills so he can see where they’re coming from and try to forge compromises before things get adversarial.

Also running in the 2016 gubernatorial race are Republican candidate Eric Greitens, Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster and Libertarian candidate Cisse Spragins.

ljones@semissourian.com

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