TWO RED HOT PRIMARIES: Colona vs. Landmann, Wright-Jones vs. Hubbard (see full transcripts below)

As the Aug. 5 primary fast approaches, the Vital VOICE spotlights two hotly contested Democratic races for the Missouri General Assembly. Due to weak Republican opposition, the winners of these primaries will likely win the general election.

St. Louis attorneys Joan Landmann and Mike Colona are the front runners for the open Missouri House seat for the 67th District being vacated by term-limited Democrat Michael Daus.

Similarly, Missouri State Representatives Robin Wright-Jones (D-63) and Rodney R. Hubbard (D-58) are in a prickly race for the 5th District state Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Maida Coleman, also term limited.

All four candidates are aggressively courting the progressive vote and are relatively consistent on key issues. Of the four pro-choice candidates, all but Hubbard received NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri’s endorsement. Each of the candidates scored 100-percent on a recent PROMO-PAC (Missouri’s statewide gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) advocacy group) questionnaire with Colona and Wright-Jones receiving the endorsement for their comprehensive understanding of GLBT issues.

A transcript of the wide ranging, exclusive interviews which were conducted July 2 and 3 will be available online.

JOAN LANDMANN

joanlandmann2008.com

Joan Landmann considers reproductive freedoms and choice in Missouri one of the issues that set her apart from her opponent in the race for the 67th Missouri House District. The St. Louis attorney who specializes in family law, wills and trusts, real estate and litigation serves on NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri’s Foundation Board and was voted NARAL volunteer of the year in 2006.

“I am amazed that in the year 2008 we are talking about this issue,” stated Landmann. “We need to get more reproductive rights back. Effectively, there is an abortion ban here in the state of Missouri. It is so difficult for a woman to seek abortion care in the state of Missouri it might as well be illegal. We are absolutely just at the border of that. We need to get back to good family planning—good, comprehensive family planning for lower income families, because we know that’s where the heart of it is.”

Although her opponent is also pro-choice, Landmann is careful to point out that because she is a woman she understands the issue to its core.

Landmann also views her position on the environment as another strength in the tight race having earned the endorsement of the Sierra Club.

Actively seeking GLBT support, Landmann has pledged to support nondiscrimination and anti bullying laws and marriage equality.

“I think everyone should be afforded that right,” Landmann explained. “It is a fundamental right and to discriminate “because of” is wrong in my point of view. As an attorney I certainly understand that discrimination at its heart is wrong. I mean we’ve been through this before, haven’t we? History seems to be repeating itself and I’m amazed we have not learned our lesson the first time. No citizen should be disenfranchised because of sexual orientation.”

Regarding health care, Landmann would like to see the thousands of Missourians who lost their health care under Gov. Matt Blunt returned to the rolls as well as the income level be set at 100-percent of poverty instead of 1960s standards.

“We need to take a better look at figuring out how to get more people quality, affordable health care,” said Landmann. “Another thing I hear in the district is people can’t afford it—period—end of story. That’s why they don’t have it. This is something that’s become a necessity—it’s not a luxury to take care of ourselves.”

In addressing education reform Landmann supports charter schools but remains concerned about lack of public oversight. She also advocates for a coming together across party lines to address the troubled city schools.

The problems in the education system are varied, Landmann stated. “We do know it is less the kids than it is about the parents, the teachers and the administration. We need to work collectively to figure out how to make sure our children are educated in the city. That comes at a high cost to us as city residents. People are leaving the city because they cannot find a decent education for their children.”

MIKE COLONA

citizensforcolona.com

Mike Colona appreciates the significance of trying to become only the second openly gay man to serve in the Missouri General Assembly and join Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford (D-59) and Sen. Jolie Justus (D-10) in growing the GLBT Caucus to three.

“I think it’s our obligation as out individuals to approach people and break down stereotypes,” said Colona. “And even though I’m running as a gay man, it’s just a part of the campaign … I would like the opportunity to go down to Jeff City and show some of the conservative Democrats that being an out, open gay man is perhaps something different than what the stereotype is that they know.”

According to Colona, his sexuality is only a small part of his campaign and certainly not the cornerstone and he has earned an impressive round of endorsements which include law enforcement, firefighters, teachers and organized labor.

A lawyer in private practice specializing in some first amendment issues, personal injury and worker’s compensation cases, Colona says he’ll bring a unique perspective, especially on health care. Colona advocates returning coverage for those who were kicked off the rolls in recent years, working with insurance companies to lower premiums and requiring full disclosure from insurance companies.

“Suing insurance companies has given me the luxury of knowing how they train their people,” offered Colona. “They send their people to classes to learn how to deny claims, to learn how to cut claims and ask any doctor do they get paid what they’re supposed to get paid for treating people—they don’t—and the health insurance companies make money hand over fist.”

Colona, who was also endorsed by NARAL, views reproductive choice in Missouri as a freedom which must be protected.

“When it comes to choice a lot of people base this on religious issues, morality—when in reality it’s a legal issue; it’s a constitutional issue, Colona explained. “As a state representative it’s not my job to try and whittle away at choice and in fact if I had my druthers I would restore some of the things that have been whittled away. I would make sure that Planned Parenthood is funded all of the time. I would make sure people are empowered with information to prevent pregnancy and STDs.”

Colona says he’s a “huge fan” of public education having attended Fox in Jefferson County and earning an undergraduate degree from a public university but that what worked for him is not working for all Missourians.

“In my background the opportunity existed in our public schools for students to take advantage of,” said Colona. “Unfortunately the city schools have lost their accreditation. I don’t want to take money away from them and give them to vouchers. I don’t think that’s right. By the same token families here in the city need to have faith and believe that things are going to get better and one of the ways to do that quickly is to allow the option of charter schools.”

Asked for a difference between him and his opponent Colona pointed to crime prevention stating that he’s seen what’s worked and what hasn’t worked.
“I know what special interests are at play down in Jefferson City to impact the criminal justice system,” said Colona.

ROBIN WRIGHT-JONES

wrightjonesforsenate.com

Robin Wright-Jones says she’s not borrowed and she’s not bought. The representative from the 63rd legislative District of the Missouri House since 2002 is locked in a heated battle with Rep. Rodney Hubbard for the 5th District state Senate post.

“My money is deep and wide and diverse and his money has very serious special interest overtones,” alleged Wright-Jones of her opponent whose contributors include Show Me Institute President Rex Sinquefield and St. Charles developer Paul McKee. “That kind of money is buying an agenda; it’s not supporting a campaign.”

Wright-Jones also accuses Hubbard of engaging in political gamesmanship by cozying up to Republicans and along with Rep. Theodore Hoskins (D-80) thwarting her legislative impact in the House.

“I’ve been in Democratic leadership the whole time,” offered Wright-Jones. “I was chair of the House Democratic Caucus, I was chair of the Black Caucus, I was chair of the Regional Caucus and I was chair of the City Delegation Caucus. I’ve been in leadership and I’ve been a focal point for not letting any of your agendas run through and I have filed bills routinely and gotten hearings on some. This year I didn’t get any. Last year I got knocked off two committees because of the Hubbard/Hoskins relationship with the Republicans.”

But Wright-Jones is in this fight and the former St. Louis teacher views education as a major difference between her and Hubbard. According to Wright-Jones, there is a systematic effort going on to destabilize the St. Louis public schools by siphoning off public dollars and putting them into private coffers. She calls for more money, participation and energy to shore up St. Louis city schools

“We need our neighborhood schools because they stabilize neighborhoods,” said Wright-Jones. “Charter schools are not a system. If you get mad about this one you just can’t go over to that one … And obviously vouchers or tax credits to me, just siphon off public dollars when you have to keep that one whole-pot … I am not opposed to any other type of educational venue but it has to be quantifiable and you have to find your own funding stream.”

Endorsed by NARAL, Wright-Jones is solidly pro-choice and along with Sen. Joan Bray (D-24) has twice introduced the prevention first bill to deal with the rise in STDs in St. Louis.

“The reality is we have a population that is ill and it’s a menace when we have this type of rampant communicable disease,” said Wright-Jones. “We have to have education, we have to have treatment, we have to have legislation to support that.”

Addressing health care, Wright-Jones proposes returning those uninsured under the recent budget cuts to the rolls and expanding eligibility and expanding services under state guidelines. According to Wright-Jones, it’s a matter of negotiation.

“The state obviously has to be able to develop more revenue and to develop more revenue you need a healthy population and you need an educated population,” she explained. “The first thing we need to do is take the money that’s in the budget and I like to use the term triage—who needs it most? Our children, our seniors, our disabled—those who have debilitating illnesses or are in constant need of some kind of medical care. We have to, in the budget process, move ourselves away from sacred cows or personal agendas and put the tax dollars back to the people who paid them because the money is there to cover it.”

Wright-Jones has been a champion of GLBT rights in the House and pledges to continue her 100-percent pro-GLBT record in the Senate.

RODNEY HUBBARD

hubbardforsenate.com

Immediately after concluding his interview with the Vital VOICE, Rep. Rodney Hubbard offered this assessment of his opponent, Rep. Robin Wright-Jones: “She’s a nice lady. But she’s lazy.”

Elected in 2002 as representative from the 58th Legislative District of the Missouri House, Hubbard says he’s produced results and crossed the aisle to get things done for his constituents.

“I’ve passed legislation and meaningful legislation and have also helped a lot of my colleagues pass legislation,” offered Hubbard. “My opponent; she’s passed no legislation. She couldn’t help other members of our party when under majority reign pass any legislation. She most definitely did not bring any resources back to her community. She could not affect any appointments that took place.”

Hubbard rebuffs any perceived conflict of interest by supporting traditionally Republican legislation such as tort reform or tax vouchers while receiving hefty donations from Rex Sinquefield and Paul McKee.

“I’m nobody’s boy but I’m everybody’s man,” said Hubbard. “I got into politics because I wanted to make a difference. Any vote I’ve ever taken, any position I’ve ever taken is to be reflective of my constituents. Being a leader is taking your constituents to a place they’ve never been.”

Hubbard says he’s a strong supporter of education and education reform and likens the public school system in St. Louis to a war zone citing statistics that some 70-percent who attend St. Louis’ schools will drop out.

“We can educate them now or incarcerate them later,” stated Hubbard. “I think we should put a variety of that [choices] on the table whether you want to go to public school, whether you want to go to a charter school, whether you want to go to a religious school; I think that’s your right as a human being and I just firmly believe you reach people where you can find them.”

A pro-choice Democrat, Hubbard also advocates ramped up sex education to address unwanted pregnancy and St. Louis’ pervasive STD problem.

“I think prevention is the key,” explained Hubbard. “I think wherever we can find these kids, wherever we can reach them—in the public school system, outside the public school system, or on the street corner. We have to reach these kids in St. Louis [and tell them] wrap it up, protect yourself, because this is the reality.”

Hubbard also boasts a very strong record on GLBT issues pointing out that despite the fact that it wasn’t popular with some in his home district, it was the right thing to do.
“At the end of the day just because it does not affect me I think we all have our rights and I don’t think they should be infringed upon,” Hubbard said.

In addressing health care Hubbard calls for a reversal of the Medicaid cuts under Gov. Blunt and community members and elected officials working together to identify different health care assistances to support while at the same time growing the tax base to get the money in.

“We’ve got to restore the programs,” stated Hubbard. “…I firmly believe that this is the home of the free and land of the brave and anybody who’s over 65-years-old should eventually have quality health care but how do we get there and where does the money come from is the big question. I think by making sure that we create those jobs and create that strong tax base to pump more money in and trying to find other areas where we can cut some fat off of to make sure we protect our seniors who have been on the front lines.”

You can email Colin Murphy at colin_murphy@sbcglobal.net.