KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The 14th District for the Missouri House was left open when Rep. Ron Schieber decided instead to pursue the position of Platte County commissioner. The 14th covers parts of both Clay and Platte County, just north of Kansas City. Three candidates filed between last fall and March – one Democrat and two Republicans.
Republican underdog in name identification, social media reach and fundraising, Josh Catton bears no qualms with picking a fight with Shook, Hardy, and Bacon attorney and North Kansas City school board member Kevin Corlew, or potential general opponent Stephanie Isaacson, who is a small business owner.
“I have started a business and grown a business,” Isaacson said of her business which currently has more than 65 employees. “One of my opponents is very young and one of my opponents is an attorney. Having that job experience will help with the job aspect of economics.”
Though Corlew is considered the front runner for the Republican primary, his fundraising numbers were nowhere near his potential general election opponent’s. Whereas Corlew had received just over $5,000, Isaacson had received almost $13,000 – double of what both Republicans had raised by April 15. But Corlew says that the first report is not a good indicator of support because he started fundraising for a state representative campaign three months after Isaacson.
“They would have had to raise quite a bit to catch up,” Isaacson said. Around 90% of Isaacson’s donations are from small business owners and average $120 each.
Corlew is not wavering, though, and says that momentum is building.
“A better indicator is the long list of endorsements from Northland leaders who support my candidacy,” Corlew said. “ In terms of fundraising, we expect to show strong support on our second-quarter report.”
Corlew sports endorsements from current legislators for the area Sen. Ryan Silvey and Rep. Ron Schieber, as well as area state legislators Reps. Ken Wilson, T.J. Berry, Myron Neth, Noel Shull, and local officials from both Platte and Clay County and area school boards. Despite Corlew’s long list of endorsements, the district leans Democratic by a few points. Consultants rate the district at between 47-48% Republican.
Corlew is not hesitant about the district’s mild lean to the left, saying that his community involvement has helped build connections that have created a platform that sees eye-to-eye with his district. He has been involved in the community in partisan and nonpartisan ways, formerly serving as the Clay County Pachyderms president. Corlew told the Missouri Times in an email that his networking has caused people to know and trust him because he “genuinely” wants to do his part to better the community.
“I appreciate the political diversity of our area,” Corlew said. “As a school board member, chair of our homes association, and in other areas of community leadership, I’ve been able to work with people, regardless of political persuasion, to improve our community. My common-sense messages of economic opportunity, governmental fiscal responsibility, education, and essential services resonate with people from all walks of life and party affiliations.”
Isaacson embraces her strength as a female small-business owning candidate over being a Democrat.
“When we get out and talk to folks, the people are very, very supportive,” Isaacson said. “I think that women have an advantage because 51% of voters in the district are women. They want people elected that are like them. There is a great population of small business owners in that area.”
Corlew’s primary opponent believes the race should be more “personal” than what he perceives Corlew’s campaign to be. Catton says that he is running a “personal” campaign in the aspect that he is taking it to the streets. His opponents both shared that they’ve also been running aggressive grassroots campaigns.
“My opponent is an attorney at Shook, Hardy, and Bacon who is attacking my age and not my positions,” Catton said of Corlew. He spared no reservation towards talking about Isaacson, saying “I think she’s doing the Claire McCaskill thing where she’s a liberal at heart.”
“As I’ve been meeting with people at their doorsteps, I’m reminded that most people, regardless of political interests, just want to live, work, and raise their families in freedom, peace, and prosperity,” Corlew said. “I aim to work for an efficient government that supports, not controls, an economic environment of growth and opportunity. This will allow our entrepreneurs and small business owners to grow their businesses and hire more Northland workers, so they in turn can work to provide a good life for their families.”
Corlew listed education and the economy as top priorities, if elected. Issacson’s campaign has been based on the same. Catton’s platform includes those priorities, as well as Right to Work.
“That’s the ultimate end of education,” Isaacson said of the importance of education to the economy.
One of the reasons Catton wanted to run because of how talking points make a race leading to dishonest candidates. “I just kind of hate that,” he said, promising to be completely open and honest regarding his positions.
“I’ve seen what I have done with my company and my career. I know that I can make a difference. I want to be given a chance to show that,” Isaacson said.
Rachael Herndon was the editor at The Missouri Times and also produced This Week in Missouri Politics, published Missouri Times Magazine, and co-hosted the #MoLeg podcast. She joined The Missouri Times in 2014, returning to political reporting after working as a campaign and legislative staffer.
Rachael studied at the University of Missouri – Columbia. She lives in Jefferson City with her husband, Brandon, and their two children.
