Four Locals in State-wide Races Fire up The Queen City of the Ozarks.
Talkative characters from our major parties enlivened our town yesterday as much as near record temperatures. As we approach Dog Days, Springfield seems unusually sleepy. Few university students speed by. Locals head to nearby lakes, mountains and rivers. Especially slow times for me, having to wear a heavy metal brace to support a broken kneecap, a result of crashing my Lamborghini as I explain to friends.
1. Jay Ashcroft, Republican governor candidate.
Son of a former U.S. Senator and Attorney General for George H.W. Bush, Jay is the incumbent Mo. Secretary of State and said to be not near as bright. But he and his two primary opponents spent beaucoup millions on bizarre TV ads showing their opponents to be criminals or perverts.
The three more-Trumpy-than-thou candidates claimed each other were selling local farms to Communist China. One candidate featured TV ads with his flame thrower burning up popular campaign issues. All three ran videos from somewhere on our Southern border showing they are going to personally send immigrants back to Mexico, or wherever.
At least all had the civility not to claim their opponents were fornicating heifers, as a candidate so accused his rival when I lived in West Virginia in the early ‘60s.
Being a former reporter, my blood runs faster on election days. I had to visit Jay’s watch party at the old downtown AT&T building, renovated as the new Moxy Hotel. A striking 10-story Art Deco, the boutique tower recently opened. I wanted to catch the scene on the new rooftop bar and restaurant.
At 7:30 p.m. bright sun roasted waiting state-wide media. Correspondents and camera operators all tidy in black sweated away on the south balcony with new stainless steel furnishings. Where’s the candidate?
“He’s back at his daddy’s house,” one guys grumbled as he wiped his brow.
Several cute blondes in little black dresses hung back inside where it’s cool. My friend Conrad, tending bar before heading up to D.C. for an AmeriCorps program, urged me to stick around. “The appetizers are spectacular!”
But my wife was waiting back in the car. I felt gimpy with this annoying leg brace. Maybe I could persuade Cathy to try writer’s ethics to enjoy free cocktails? The elevator featured a fantastic collage of Ozark Mountain Daredevil’s records and posters from around the world.
But no, she would rather study Spanish on her cellphone than be around a bunch of stinky journalists and Republicans.
Later, the 10 p.m. news showed Jay sweating in near darkness. He dejectedly offered appreciation to his staff, donors and family. I hoped he at least had some appetizers to assuage the flame throwers’ tickle.
2. Mike Hamra, a Democratic candidate for Governor.
Just a few blocks away, the Springfield Brewing Co. offers an impressive display of stainless tanks to show a local fabricators’ skills. Mostly middle-aged businessmen milled around the open upstairs of the venerable brewery. They stood in small groups talking in hushed tones. No media. I recognized one local attorney. The younger crowd, maybe campaign staffers, sat at tables eating and drinking beers quietly. It’s way too early and boring.
The local press claimed the candidate had dropped more than a million of his own funds on his campaign. Hamra also raised twice that. His ads had no flame throwers or semi-automatic rifles. Just an earnest speech that his family’s business always treated their employees fairly and generously.
Our neighbor says their daughter dated Mike once. He seemed like a nice guy. That was about as the same message in his commercials. No wonder the meet-and-greet seemed low-keyed.
I stuffed down a hamburger, but found Cathy a roast beef sandwich. Time to find another watch party. What about cruising up to Crystal Quade’s?
It’s too far away, way up on Commercial Street at a favorite coffee house. Too late for caffeine. Let’s buzz over toward the mall to see what the regular Democrats are up to.
3. Rank-and-file Democrats, watching a large screen TV at Prima’s Mexican Restaurant.
It’s just 8:30 or so but already this crowd seems to be quickly thinning. We recognize many from our experience on the county party central committee or the office where Cathy volunteers most Thursdays. The only vittles remaining are scattered baskets of tortilla chips which have been picked over. The crumbs would hardly feed baby birds who fledged the nest to find free food in the Republican suburbs.
Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, just picked as the Democratic vice-presidential candidate, fires up the faithful in Philadelphia. But he’s interrupted by our computer expert uploading local results from the county clerk’s office.
These totals will be discussed endlessly. Which candidates will have a chance? What can the numbers mean for our young women running to be state representative? For the last two years Springfield has been represented by three relatively young, smart women. In most of the surrounding districts and counties good ol’ boys, who bow before Trump, run local offices.
Several families of bikers at tables near the meeting room give an evil eye to the aging Democrats as we begin to head home. Kamala Harris joins her running mate in urging the crowd to “Fight! Fight!” Here it’s flight; flight as it’s almost 9, bedtime for seniors!
We’re among the educated, retired military or teachers, bureaucrats or former Frisco railway workers. Who is going to vote to daylight the creek in Jordan Valley? Can the city afford to restore Lake Springfield? Are there books in the schools advocating trans and gay lifestyles? Why not make the city buses free to give the low income a break and encourage more general ridership? Save all these and more questions for tomorrow.
4. Crystal Quade at Big Moma’s Coffee Shop.
We watch as we fall asleep at home. Crystal seems all smiles. She’s the one Democrat who’s won a primary. But totals show almost twice as many elephants voted as mules state-wide.
To win, should she emphasize she was a member of a pro roller derby team, or the first in her family to graduate from high school, or served as the Minority Speaker of the House for 6 of her 8 years in office?
I regret we didn’t have the energy to drive up to join her watch party. The crowd seems the youngest and most diverse in age and race we’ve seen all night. None of them look sleepy or carry flame throwers or pack an AR-15. It’s 10 p.m. and they’re still awake, amazing!
Are they ready to go door-to-door or call strangers from computer lists tomorrow? What is the secret to raising more millions and getting votes from children of mostly former immigrants– legal, illegal, ignorant yet proud– into our delicate democratic experiment?