Candidates for governor square off

The Missouri Press Association hosted four candidates in the Missouri governor’s race for a debate Sept. 20 at the Historic Fox Theatre in downtown Springfield. The event was part of the MPA annual convention, held in the Queen City.

The event was the first debate for the gubernatorial candidates. No other debates have yet been scheduled.

Presenting their views at the MPA forum were Republican Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe; Rep. Crystal Quade, D-Springfield; Libertarian Bill Slantz; and Green Party candidate Paul Lehmann.

The debate began with candidates briefly introducing themselves.

Quade, who lives in Springfield, said she was running for governor because the state ranks last in public education funding and has crumbling roads and bridges and police shortages all across the state.

“The folks who’ve been in charge are doing anything but paying attention to those issues,” she said.

She said she supports access to reproductive health care and allowing doctors to do their jobs.

“I’m running for governor because I will uphold the will of voters,” she said. “I will get politicians out of your doctors’ offices, out of your personal business, and protect your freedom.”

Kehoe described his childhood, when he worked odd jobs to support his family, and he said all Missourians should be able to live the American dream.

“That’s why I’ve been very, very involved in supporting and expanding Missouri’s vocational and technical training to make sure Missourians are trained for the high-paying jobs that I know our employers have to offer,” he said.

He added that he wants to reduce red tape and cut taxes for businesses while also providing safe neighborhoods.

Slantz said as a Libertarian, he is in favor of not letting the government drive.

“Sit up in your seat; pay attention to what’s going on,” he said.

Lehmann said the big gorilla in the room is the need for a green economy.

A video of the debate is on the YouTube channel of the History Museum on the Square, which hosted the debate.

Quade said the state of Missouri is not paying subsidies for foster children to child care providers, sometimes to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars. This forced 53 providers to close in the last year, she said.

“I want to have our best conversations around how we can increase our access and affordability, but step one is making sure that the government is doing what it’s promised and paying its bills on time to our child care providers,” she said.

Kehoe said the child care crisis is nonpartisan and is a Missouri issue.

“We have a $1.4 billion dollars, with a B, of labor sitting at home in the state of Missouri because those working folks want to go to work and can’t get child care,” he said.

He said businesses must have the option to build their own child care centers, and other outside-the-box ideas must also be pursued. He added that he also favors the child care tax credit.

Lehmann said one solution is to provide universal health care to support caregivers who need it, and they also need to be paid a decent salary.

Slantz said the state has no business in child care whatsoever, and the issue should be taken care of by local communities or in the home with parents and grandparents.

Proposed increases to minimum wage
A ballot measure coming before voters in November would raise Missouri’s minimum wage from the current $12.30 an hour to $13.75 an hour next year and to $15 an hour in 2026, with annual inflationary adjustments in following years as well as a requirement for paid sick leave. 

Kehoe said he does not support the amendment. 

“As a Missouri businessman and somebody who’s created hundreds of jobs over the 35-year period I’ve been in business, I would not be able to support the minimum wage petition,” he said. “I believe that government should not be setting wages for people. I think the economy and business should.”

He said minimum wages will cause price increases and limit opportunities for young workers. 

Slantz agreed with Kehoe, noting there should be no minimum wage and that low-wage jobs oppress the workforce. 

“Entry-level jobs are not meant to be supporting of one’s life or family,” he said. “Entry-level jobs are the way to learn a skill.”

Lehmann said he supports the amendment and noted that the Green Party supports a $25 minimum wage. 

“People need to be compensated for what they do,” he said. “It’s hard work for low-income people, the working poor, and we want to suppress them even more by not allowing them a decent minimum floor.”

Quade also supports a minimum wage increase.

“We have so many parents and so many people who are working minimum wage jobs, multiple minimum wage jobs, to get by because they can’t actually find good quality, high-paying jobs,” she said, highlighting that the mandatory sick leave addition is particularly important. “Mandatory earned sick leave … is absolutely what we need.”

Sports betting proposal 
Quade supports sports betting, noting she had hoped the legislature would have legalized the practice. 

“What’s important about this discussion is absolutely we need to be partnering it with conversations around addiction and funding for mental health services,” she said. “But the reality is that we have currently right now people in the state of Missouri who are crossing the border at Kansas or St. Louis. … You can actually see them pull over on the side of the road, placing their bets and then coming home. That is revenue that we’re missing out on.”

Kehoe noted all the states bordering Missouri already approved sports betting and said it’s needed to be competitive. 

“It’s a tool that we need for Missourians. … It’s an additional recreation,” he said. “I do think what the ballot measure provides funding for is appropriate.

“We have some gems in our state that are called major league sports teams. They provide a lot of entertainment, a lot of economic benefit to our state, and this would be something that would help us ensure those teams potentially stay in the state of Missouri.”

Slantz supports sports betting legislation but noted the legislation favors large corporations. Lehmann opposes sports betting. Both said supporters’ statements about the proceeds, partially slated to fund education, are misleading to voters.

Tax credit and cuts
To a question on whether current tax credit practices, which subtracted $669 million from Missouri’s Treasury in 2023, need to be revised, Kehoe said it’s something that must be evaluated. 

“Tax credits are something that absolutely need to be looked at to make sure they’re giving a good return on investment,” he said, noting he supports tax credits for affordable housing developments. He said other tax credit programs needed to be revamped but did not name which programs.

Quade said she supports tax credits but noted more oversight is needed to ensure the investments benefit the state. She said more credits are needed around child care and elder care. 

“We as a state, when we’re talking about tax credits, again need to be putting everyday, working-class Missourians at the forefront of these discussions,” she said.

Slantz said he would end tax credits in the state.

Lehmann said he supports credits, but noted a restructure of the tax credit structure is needed to support the working poor.

Missouri’s income tax rate is set to decline to 4.7% in January. Candidates were asked whether they support the cut and how they plan to offset lost revenues.

Quade said a fair tax structure is needed in the state to tax higher earners more than low-income workers and to lower costs on taxes for food and feminine hygiene products. 

Kehoe said there should be no income tax but said care is needed not to impact funding to social and essential services. He said competing for business attraction is a key element of the conversation.

Lehmann said 4.7% is not high enough for high-income earners. Slantz said he supports some increases to sales and use taxes and supports an elimination of income tax. 

Economic development
Candidates were asked if there are particular sectors or types of jobs they would emphasize to encourage development in the state. Quade said one of the most important things government can do is set the stage for good jobs.

“We need to understand that not everybody needs a four-year degree, and not everybody wants to go to college,” she said.

She said the state needs to partner with labor unions and community colleges to train up talent.

Additionally, she said, infrastructure, including access to broadband or to health care, is vital to making businesses want to come to the state.

Kehoe also said workforce development is essential.

“Improving career and technical education opportunities across our state is vital to me,” he said, adding that this helps to assure workers can earn high-paying skilled wages. “That’s how we grow our state economy. Putting more money in Missourians’ pockets always results in a good outcome.”

Slantz said high tax rates are sending companies fleeing from other states, and he said eliminating the business income tax or business taxes period would attract them to Missouri.

Lehmann cited a need for living wages of $25 an hour, which he said is still too low. Additionally, overregulation makes it hard for small businesses to function. Finally, he suggested universal health care as a solution that would eliminate one worry for business owners.

For candidates’ positions on other issues, including Amendment 3, which would enshrine reproductive health care rights in the state constitution, click here.