Candidate support

The Republican candidate for Missouri attorney general, Mike Gibbons, was in Cape Girardeau on Monday at an event for Ken Hulshof, candidate for governor, and attended by Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. Gibbons has enlivened his message delivery. His candidacy was recently endorsed by Columbia Daily Tribune editor Hank Waters III with the following comments about Gibbons.

"... take a look at Gibbons' strengths.

"Most simply said, he has a very pragmatic approach, concentrating on activities of the office he considers most important for the welfare of Missourians. This does not make for dramatic revelations about brave new worlds to conquer, but it is reassuring.

"Gibbons wants to provide more help to local jurisdictions as they try to combat online cybercrime, emphasizing education for families about the dangers of unmonitored computer browsing by children. He would help smaller jurisdictions with preventive law enforcement efforts, such as stings by officers posing as young girls.

"Noticing a recent resurgence in methamphetamine use, he thinks publicity could be an effective countermeasure to show graphically the awful effects of this drug. For a long time I have suggested this tactic as more effective in combating all sorts of drug abuse than anything police can do with clubs and guns.

"He recognizes the good job incumbent Attorney General Jay Nixon has done in the field of consumer protection, vowing to continue and expand these activities.

"And in the increasingly important area of Sunshine Law enforcement, his philosophy is perfect. State and local officials need to understand very few items of their public business is legally eligible for secrecy. He wants to continue and expand education programs teaching local officials how to comply with the law.

"Most exciting of all to me, Gibbons is considering an innovation that could do more to enhance enforcement of the Sunshine Law than anything yet done: the establishment of an office that would receive complaints and order both sides to appear for a hearing, after which the attorney general would issue an opinion. This would not be legally binding, but in most cases it would have a profound effect, giving both sides and the public valuable insight.

"In some cases complainants might learn their charges are off base; in others defendant officials will learn they are in violation and the state's top law enforcement officer is aware of the situation. If later the dispute ends up in court, it can't hurt that the litigants have undergone the prior hearing.

"Most to the point, increased attention from the attorney general's office will do a lot to make officials think and work more diligently to comply with the law, making enforcement unnecessary.

"Gibbons also would do more direct prosecution of repeat Sunshine Law offenders regardless of which political party might be affected, hinting incumbent Nixon might have been motivated partly by politics in choosing his battles.

"Gibbons also takes a minor swipe at Nixon for accepting campaign money from Ameren at the very time he was negotiating with the utility company over reparations for its Taum Sauk reservoir breach. Nixon later returned the money, and Gibbons' acknowledges sometimes campaign operatives receive donations unknown to the candidates, but, he says, "I simply will tell my people don't do that, period."

"During his time as the majority leader in the Senate, Gibbons acted in a low-key, accommodating way. He touts his legislative background as an advantage. He can "walk across the street" and talk with lawmakers about new laws that might be needed and the effects of laws already on the books."

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To the above, let me add that Gibbons understands government as the current Senate president pro tem and the problems that overly litigious trial lawyers can create in attracting industry, jobs and fair trials.

His opponent is funded largely by trial lawyers and unions. At the Cape Girardeau meeting, Governor Barbour spoke to the success of tort reform in Mississippi as the reason that state has attracted a large Nissan plant, a major steel mill and, recently, one of the most sought after industries in the United States: the new Toyota auto plant.

Another tool Mississippi has used is one Hulshof has proposed: offering to train workers to the skills the new plants require.

I hope Gibbons will (in office) discontinue one of the most unbelievable activities in which current Attorney General Jay Nixon has been engaged: the unilateral selecting of the entire charter board of the Missouri Health Foundation, which has assets of well over $1 billion and distributes about $50 million annually to charities and organizations of its choice. Nixon still selects (through an advisory committee) the board member nominees. This has gone on for almost eight years. I have expressed my disagreement with this procedure to both Nixon and officers of the foundation. This influence by one elected official of the members of this not-for-profit board is too great.

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Another recent newspaper candidate endorsement was of Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder by the Washington Missourian as follows:

"Kinder should be returned: Often in making endorsements of candidates for political offices, the decision is difficult and not clear-cut. Not so in the race for lieutenant governor of Missouri. Incumbent Peter Kinder should be returned to the office.

"The reason is because of his record and experience in state government. The Cape Girardeau Republican has held the office of lieutenant governor since 2005. Before that he served 12 years in the Missouri Senate, and was elected president pro tem of that body in 2001. He had a positive record in the Senate and displayed strong leadership qualities.

"As lieutenant governor and in the Senate he has been an advocate for senior citizens, including backing legislation to increase penalties for elder abuse and he crafted the Missouri Senior Rx plan providing prescription drug coverage for low-income seniors. He chairs the Missouri Rx Plan Commission. He played a leadership role in passage of the Assisted Living Bill in 2006. He has supported legislation to help military veterans. In 2005, he proposed and helped to pass the Missouri Military Family Relief Fund, which benefits family members of the Missouri National Guard and Army Reserve personnel who have been called to active duty. This past summer, he spoke when veterans were honored at the Washington Fair, another indication of his interest in the welfare of veterans.

"As lieutenant governor, he chairs the Missouri Tourism Commission and the Missouri Development Finance Board and serves on the Missouri Housing Development Commission. He also has been involved in mental health issues, programs to help children with special needs, governmental reforms and energy usage and strategies.

"Kinder has vast governmental experience, both in legislative and executive matters, knows the state and its people and has earned another four years in the office of lieutenant governor. We'd give him an 'A' in performance."

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There are three kinds of people: People who run away. People who watch and do nothing. People who get involved.

"In every adversity there is the seed of a greater or equal benefit."

-- W. Clement Stone

Gary Rust is chairman of Rust Communications.