This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Oct. 17, 2012 - A lot is on the line in the race for secretary of state.
The contest to succeed retiring Secretary of State Robin Carnahan will determine who controls an office in charge the state's elections process.
Democratic nominee Jason Kander of Kansas City is hoping to strike electoral pay dirt with a focus on his military service and his legislative efforts to reform campaign finance and ethics laws. Kander has amassed more than $1 million to spend over the airwaves touting that message.
“My approach is really simple: We need someone over the next several years in the secretary of state’s office who will take nonpartisan (stands) and always have the courage to stand up and do what’s right for Missourians,” Kander said.
Republican nominee Shane Schoeller touts his prior experience as an administrative aide within the office, expertise he says will help him transition smoothly. Schoeller has made the election a referendum on Carnahan – a Democrat who ruffled some GOP feathers during her eight years in office.
“We live in an era where Missourians have certainly expressed that they’re tired of big government,” Schoeller said. “That’s where my philosophy certainly lines up with the average Missourian. I trust Missourians a lot more than I trust the government to be able to accomplish the task at hand.”
The two men don't seem to agree on anything. They have different views on how to write ballot summary language. (The phrasing could spell the difference between victory and defeat.) They also have opposing positions on whether to require government-issued photo identification at the polls.
Creatures of the House
Both candidates come from the Missouri House where Republicans have a firm majority. Schoeller was elected in 2006; Kander in 2008.
Before he was elected, Schoeller was an administrative aide in the secretary of state’s office during Republican Matt Blunt’s tenure. He also was director of government affairs for the Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield.
In the legislature, Schoeller was elected as speaker pro tem – the second-highest position within House leadership. Schoeller also chaired a committee in 2011 that examined how the state should react to natural disasters in Joplin, southeast Missouri and St. Louis County.
Besides citing his work on legislation reducing the franchise tax and changing how union elections are conducted, Schoeller often touts his experience in the secretary of state’s office. If elected, he said he’ll be able to make a smoother transition into office than someone without similar expertise.
“It’s important that you know each division as you select people that are going lead each division,” Schoeller said. “You want to have an understanding of the best needs for that division. I think I have a very good understanding of that element of the office, as well as what their individual duties are.”
An attorney, Kander joined the Army Reserves after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and ultimately became a military intelligence officer. He often cites his military experience as a driving force in his legislative approach.
“When I served in the Army in Afghanistan, I saw firsthand what happens when people don’t trust the government,” Kander said. “And that’s why when I came home and I won a seat in the state legislature, I focused on reforming our state’s broken ethics laws to make sure Missourians – not special interests – are heard in Jefferson City. And I’m running for secretary of state to continue that work.”
Kander expressed enthusiastic support for extending early voting in the state. Currently, someone can only cast an absentee ballot in person or by mail if they have a specific excuse.
“I think early voting works. It’s not a partisan issue anywhere else,” Kander said. “And it’s a good thing for more Missourians to be invested in our democracy. And one way is to make it easier for eligible Missourians to vote. And so, I think at minimum we should move toward no-excuse absentee because it won’t cost the state anything since the infrastructure already exists.”
Schoeller too said he was supportive but would be cautious not to financially strap counties that run elections.
“I’ve never been opposed to the idea of ‘no excuse’ absentee balloting,” Schoeller said. “My main goal when talking about any type of early voting method – whether it’s no excuse absentee or any type of opportunity to vote early – is that we don’t put any unfunded mandates on local election officials. And that we work with them very carefully that if anything is implemented, they are ready to embrace and have the capabilities to do themselves."
Both candidates have ideas to enhance the office’s business services division: Kander wants to put entrepreneurs in touch with existing groups helping people “avoid some of the really common pitfalls of new business.” Schoeller says he wants to clamp down on the classifications that a business must choose when registering.
Disagreements on ballot summaries, photo ID
The candidates have the biggest philosophical disagreements on how to craft ballot summary language and whether to require a government-issued photo identification at the polls.
The first issue is pertinent because interest groups have increasingly looked to ballot initiatives to change policy. Often, backers and opponents of these measures have ended up in court with Carnahan’s office over the ballot summary language. That’s a brief description of the statutory change or constitutional amendment compiled by the secretary of state’s office.
Schoeller – who, like many Republicans, contends Carnahan’s instituted her “political bias” into summaries – proposed a “Fair Ballot Commission” to review contested ballot summary language. He noted that he changed the proposal so that non-elected Missourians would sit on that commission, not elected officials.
“I believe that we have something that makes sure the citizen’s voice is front and center,” Schoeller said. “And so, we began to think about the idea, currently the only recourse you have if the secretary writes ballot language that you disagree with, the only recourse you have is the courts. My belief is that’s costly and time consuming.”
Kander panned the idea.
“His proposal started with a committee of politicians,” Kander said. “And then when that was criticized, he changed it to a proposal of people who were appointed by politicians. So he went from a politician committee to a committee of cronies. When I was given a mission in the Army, I didn’t pass it off to some other soldier. And I’m not sure why Shane Schoeller is trying to pass the buck to his friends in Jefferson City.
“I’ll write language in a way that’s fair, straightforward and nonpartisan – and takes the politics out of the issue at hand,” he added.
Kander also disagrees with Schoeller’s endorsement of a government-issued photo identification requirement for voting, including absentee.
For years, Democratic critics have argued that a requirement would make it more difficult for the poor and elderly to vote.
“I’ve always supported a sensible requirement that does not disenfranchise eligible Missourians,” Kander said. “And I will never support unnecessary roadblocks to make it hard to vote. And that’s why I was against the proposals that have come up in Missouri because they have been extreme and unfair."
Schoeller said earlier this week that the current requirements for identification are not strong enough.
“Right now, the moment somebody commits fraud, if they haven’t registered under the same name or same Social Security number, your potential to catch them is nearly impossible,” he said. “Because the moment they cast that ballot and leave – they’re gone. They’re not going to be able to catch up. And that’s why it’s important do a lot better job to ensure every ballot cast is protected. And that is, we protect that personal identity by having a photo attached to the individual.”
It's common sense, says Schoeller.
"As I tell folks, the bank where I put my money takes a number of precautionary measures to make sure that money's protected," Schoeller said. "Well, I think as a state we should do everything we can to protect the people's vote."
Competitive contest
Races for down-ballot statewide office without an incumbent are usually competitive. In 2008, the races for attorney general and state treasurer were decided by a few percentage points. And with Carnahan retiring after two terms, this contest could also be close.
Already, Kander criticized Schoeller for how his wife's company operated a fee office while he was in office and for taking big donations from Rex Sinquefield, a retired financer who’s pushed for policy changes within the initiative process.
“I think campaign contribution limits are one of the things that we need to do. I think it’s very clearly something that the public wants,” Kander said. “And I think it’s something that we see in this election with the enormous amounts of money that’s flowing into some folks' campaigns from folks who clearly have an interest in the offices that in some cases they’re bankrolling candidates for, such as in my opponent's case."
Schoeller said it’s hypocritical for Kander to criticize him and not chastise Democrats – such as Attorney General Chris Koster – who’ve also taken big contributions from Sinquefield. He also said Kander’s constant focus on campaign finance issues is a diversion since it’s the legislature – not the secretary of state – that determines such policy changes.
“If you’re going to make this a front-and-center part of your campaign, you treat everybody fairly – clearly he does have a double standard,” Schoeller said. “And that’s why he continues to not talk about the issues that are important to the office, but instead put ahead these distracting issues that, in my opinion, he has very little credibility on because he’s not willing to hold everybody to the same standard.”
Kander has more money to spend on a media blitz during the last few weeks of the race. Besides money for television, Schoeller received in-kind contributions from the billboard industry.
Geography may play a big role in the outcome. Schoeller may attract more support in southwest Missouri, a big outpost for Republican voters. Kander, who’s spent lots of time campaigning in the St. Louis area, could get a boost from urban areas.
Schoeller said the presidential race may benefit Republicans across the board, especially if GOP nominee Mitt Romney performs well in the state.
“I think it’s extremely important because the presidential candidate who motivates the base the most is certainly going to have the base that turns out,” Schoeller said. “Certainly I’m very proud to be running on the ticket with Romney-Ryan. Certainly in the debate, they held their own.”
Kander is hoping that his message and background are strong enough to keep the office in Democratic hands.
“I really fundamentally believe that the person in charge of our elections, in charge of protecting our seniors from fraud, in charge of people helping grow their businesses in the state – that person has to be someone who has the courage to take a nonpartisan approach to the job,” Kander said.
