The Missouri Times: First things first, “conventional wisdom” says this will be a close race. Do you agree?
I do agree that this race will likely be close. I have always thought that this race would be a tight one.
TMT: A recent poll showed you and Cross are neck and neck in this race. How will your campaign respond to this?
No matter what the polls say, I will continue to run a vigorous campaign that focuses on grassroots outreach and organization. Whether I am up, down, or tied in the polls, I will campaign as I always have.
TMT: Having met with many voters, what issue are voters most concerned with?
Voters are weary of everything being done, or not done (as the case may be), in Jefferson City. They are tired of tax breaks for corporations, of broken roads, of troubled schools, of hyper-partisanship, and of the corruption.
TMT: Your district is showing signs of being more diverse and progressive, how does this affect your campaign methods?
I welcome diversity in my district, though I wouldn’t say that it affects how I campaign. My campaign simply seeks to learn what the voters care about, and respond to those needs, whoever my constituents are.
TMT: You’re in an extremely close race. Does a race this close come down to raising/spending more than your opponent?
Our political system has serious problems given the amount of money in campaigns, but fortunately, our elections still come down to the voters. As such, I put my faith in voter turnout, not on money.
TMT: What can we expect from your campaign between now and Election Day?
You can expect more of the same: a vigorous voter outreach program, and a clean campaign.
TMT: Where are the areas you and your opponent disagree that you think the voters should know about?
My opponent and I have different philosophies about many topics, including tax policy, education, ethics reform, and women’s healthcare. I believe corporations should pay their fair share, that our public schools should be fully funded, that lobbyist gifts should be banned, and that women should be allowed to make their own healthcare decisions.
TMT: What’s an issue that you feel there is a bipartisan agreement on among lawmakers in Jefferson City?
Unfortunately, the toxic partisan atmosphere in Jefferson City has made bipartisan agreement difficult to find. That is exactly why I think we need some fresh blood in the legislature. I would always be willing to find common cause with those across the aisle.
TMT: A dedication to dispelling monetary lobbyist influence is included in your campaign goals. If elected, how would you begin to tackle this issue?
To effect campaign finance reform, we will need to convince the majority of legislators that Missourians are tired of excessive lobbyist influence in Jeff City. I will continue to raise awareness of this issue with voters to put pressure on my colleagues.
TMT: Finally, assuming you’re elected the single most important legislative issue you think you’ll have to deal with in the coming year?
Given the legislature’s short-sighted and misguided tax-and-revenue policy from the last year, we will have to put the fiscal house in order. After the massive corporate tax handout in SB509 and the failure at the ballot of the road measure, basic services and infrastructure in this state are critically underfunded.
Kelsey Wingo is the multimedia reporter for The Missouri Times, and a senior at the University of Missouri. She will be graduating in Spring 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. Readers can contact Kelsey by calling her cell phone at 417-343-0508 or via Twitter @kels_wingo.
