This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Oct. 8, 2011 - In the week since Secretary of State Robin Carnahan announced she wasn't seeking re-election, fellow Democrat, state Rep. Jason Kander, D-Kansas City, has moved swiftly to deter Democratic rivals by amassing dozens of major endorsements and raising at least $60,000 in large donations.
Kander's endorsements include most of the state House Democrats from St. Louis and St. Louis County, including St. Louis County Assessor Jake Zimmerman. Kander's political "surge" also includes support from Kansas City Mayor Sly James and quickly forced out Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders.
Kander, a state legislator, also has collected at least 10 donations of more than $5,000 apiece within the past week. Any wave of smaller contributions won't need to be reported for months, since Kander's declaration came after the Sept. 30 deadline for the next campaign-finance report.That money is in addition to the $170,669 he reported in the bank last July.
Such results may curb the continued chuckling over Kander's initial kick-off declaration, which came within minutes of Carnahan's announcement and touched off a flurry of Tweets that Kander was appearing a bit too eager.
"Over the past week I've traveled throughout the state to talk to Missourians about my vision for the secretary of state's office," said Kander in a statement issued today -- along with his latest list of endorsements. "Working families and elected officials from across this state have energetically responded to my focus on making it easier to start a business in this state, protecting seniors and their investments, and ensuring fair elections."
Kander also has hired the same political consulting firm, Hilltop Public Solutions, that represents Gov. Jay Nixon, a fellow Democrat. The governor has yet to say anything about the swift changes in the secretary of the state's race.
At the moment, at least three Republicans appear to be vying for the job.
Kander, 30, said in an interview that he's interested in the secretary of state job because the post deals with overseeing two aspects of public life important to him: elections and business.
Kander said clean elections -- and making it easier for people to cast their vote -- are among the most aspects of democracy and state government. And in his job as a lawyer, Kander continued, "I represent working people who have been defrauded in business by others."
Arguably Kander's biggest "get" for the week was Thursday's endorsement by former Missouri Secretary of State Bekki Cook, a lawyer from Cape Girardeau who was initially appointed to the statewide post in 1994 by then-Gov. Mel Carnahan. Cook won a full term in 1996.
Kander said he planned to continue to rely on her "wise counsel."
Said Cook of Kander: "Serving as Missouri's secretary of state was a true honor for me. Every time a Missourian goes to vote, starts a small business or wants to protect their investments, the office touches their lives.
"I support Jason Kander for secretary of state because Missourians deserve a fighter who will aggressively act on their behalf," Cook continued. "Whether serving his nation in uniform or his constituents in the legislature, Jason brings unmatched integrity to public service. I couldn't think of a better person to be Missouri's next secretary of state than Jason Kander."
Cook was referring to Kander's continued military service, which is likely to figure prominently in his campaign ads as he seeks to introduce himself to most Missouri voters who have yet to have heard of him.
Kander, a lawyer, currently serves in the Army National Guard and was a military intelligence officer in the Army Reserve. As his campaign notes, "He volunteered in 2006 for deployment and served in Afghanistan. In 2010, he was one of 10 soldiers selected as national finalists for Army Reserve outstanding junior officer of the year. Rep. Kander currently serves on the Missouri Veterans Commission."
His latest list of endorsements was issued today. It includes several unions and a number of St. Louis County Democrats in the state House.
Here's his complete list, compiled from several releases issued in the last week:
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 2
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 3
United Transportation Union
Rep. Mike Colona of St. Louis, Democratic Whip
Rep. Bert Atkins of St. Louis County, Chair of the Democratic Labor Caucus
Rep. Rory Ellinger of St. Louis County
Rep. Eileen McGeoghegan of St. Louis County
Rep. Rochelle Walton Gray of St. Louis County
Rep. Clem Smith of St. Louis County
Rep. Susan Carlson of St. Louis
Rep. Linda Black of Bonne Terre
Rep. Penny Hubbard of St. Louis
Rep. Ira Anders of Independence
Former Rep. Michael Vogt of St. Louis
Former Rep. Luke Scavuzzo of Harrisonville
Kansas City Mayor Sly James
St. Louis County Assessor Jake Zimmerman
Rep. Tishaura Jones of St. Louis, Assistant Democratic Leader
Rep. Chris Carter from St. Louis, Democratic Caucus Vice-Chair
Rep. Sara Lampe of Springfield, Democratic Caucus Secretary
Rep. Jill Schupp from St. Louis County, Democratic Caucus Policy Chair
Rep. Steve Webb of St. Louis County, Black Caucus Chairman
Rep. Jake Hummel of St. Louis, Democratic St. Louis Caucus Chair
Rep. Tom Shively of Shelbyville, Democratic Rural Caucus Chair
Rep. Margo McNeil of St. Louis County
Rep. Joe Aull of Marshall
Rep. Stephen Webber from Columbia
Rep. Joe Fallert of Ste. Genevieve
Rep. Kevin McManus of Kansas City
Rep. Sharon Pace of St. Louis County
Rep. Paul Quinn of Monroe City
Rep. Tim Meadows of Imperial
Rep. Jeanne Kirkton of St. Louis County
Rep. Jamilah Nasheed of St. Louis
Rep. Tommie Pierson of St. Louis
Rep. Ed Schieffer of Troy
Rep. Karla May of St. Louis
Rep. Ben Harris of Hillsboro
Rep. Gail McCann Beatty of Kansas City
Rep. Steve Hodges of East Prairie
Rep. Michele Kratky of St. Louis
Rep. Mary Nichols of St. Louis County
Rep. Sylvester Taylor of St. Louis County
Rep. Churie Spreng of St. Louis County
Rep. Tom McDonald of Independence
Former Sen. Frank Barnitz of Lake Spring
Former Rep. Martin Rucker of St. Joseph
Former Rep. Jason Grill of Parkville
Former Rep. Charlie Norr of Springfield
Former Rep. Don Calloway of St. Louis County
Former Rep. Vicki Englund of St. Louis County
Former Rep. Belinda Harris of Hillsboro
Jason Growe, President of the Young Democrats of Greater St. Louis