Staff Reports
MT. VERNON, Mo. – Despite the NCAA basketball tournament last Friday night, more than 150 people turned out to watch the debate between Democratic 
candidate Charles Dake and Republican Mike Moon ahead of the April special election in the 157th House District.
Most questions focused on economic issues such as taxes, Medicaid expansion, prevailing wages and “right to work”, but that did not keep the candidates from bringing up hot button issues like gun control and abortion. Each candidate was given two minutes for an opening statement and two minutes to answer each question.
Dake got a chuckle from the crowd in his opening two minutes when he said, “Charlie Dake is not a public speaker and my opponent is a silver toughed orator.” He also stressed that he had adopted two of his children and that he was anti-abortion.
In his opening, Moon talked about his educational background, his career at Mercy Hospital, and his farming operation. He stressed his focus and belief in constitutional principles.
A panel made up of editors and reporters from local newspapers asked most of the questions but moderator Tom Cox also took written questions from the audience.
The first question came from Ryan Squibb of The Lawrence County Record who asked, “what was the biggest economic issue facing the area and how would each candidate fix it?” Dake mentioned the need for good jobs, no tax increases, more education funding, and the need to expand Medicaid.
“Expanding Medicaid will produce 24,000 new jobs of which 2,000 will be in our area and it will keep folks out of the emergency room,” he said.
Moon brought up a local issue and said, “The impending move of the veterans hospital will take jobs from our area and we need to try and attract jobs. Most people age 40 and below leave Lawrence County and we need to support funding for Missouri Rehabilitation Clinic and keep jobs here and help people.” He also mentioned reducing taxes and regulations on business and allowing parents choices in education.
Murry Bishoff of The Monett Times asked what each candidate’s fiscal responsibilities were. Both candidates agreed that cutting spending was important and not funding federal mandates would be a priority.
Moon mentioned going after the Obamacare mandate and Dake stressed not raising the sales taxes on seniors and poor workers.
“We need to work together to cut the budget and stop giving it all to the cities. We are the step children down here and we need to get more for the rural areas. They control the whole pie and we need to work together,” Dake said.
Paul Donley of The Pierce City Leader-Journal created a few sparks when he asked each candidate to identify the differences between them. Dake stated he was against vouchers and for Medicaid Expansion.
“I didn’t realize I was for abortion and against guns until I saw my opponents ads, but I can tell you I am against abortion and for guns,” he said.
For his part, Moon listed prevailing wages, photo ID, and Medicaid Expansion as three issues they differ on.
“I’m for saving 30 percent of the costs when building a new school and eliminating prevailing wages will save taxpayers’ dollars.” he said. “I’m a Republican and I stand for what the Republicans are for and he is a Democrat and believes in what the Democrats stand for, which is gun control and abortion.”
When asked how they would vote when the party and their conscience were at odds, Dake said, “I voted with the people and not the party. I voted with the Republicans a lot. I will vote for what helps Lawrence County.”
Moon said, “I will vote with the people except on my moral principles. Most of the time it will be on what our area wants.”
The issue of negative campaigning was brought up in a question from the audience. Many of the attendees complained about some the negative ads that they were seeing.
“I’m against it. I will not negative campaign and I have not approved or paid for any negative ads and I do not support it, said Moon.
Dake then got up walked over to Moon, turned his cheek and blew him a kiss. He then said, “I just turned the other cheek. It’s not Christian to say anything else so I will keep my mouth shut!” This brought loud applause from the audience.
Most attendees seemed to already have their mind made up, but Mike Tebow, an undecided voter who attended the debate, said many issues caught his attention.
“I wanted to know what they were going to do for MRC and I thought Dr. Dake answered that best but I was also curious about their positions on gun control,” he said.
After the event ended, he said he thought the debate was very helpful and interesting but said he was still undecided. “I’ve know Dr. Dake my whole life and just met Mike Moon recently but I still don’t know who I’m voting for,” Tebow said.
On some of the key issues, the candidates responded:
Compromise:
Moon: “I have no problems working to compromise but I will vote to uphold the constitution. If it is not constitutional I will not compromise. Compromising for the sake of compromise is not good.”
Dake: “You have to sit down with the other side and eat lunch and see what they are willing to trade. I remember having great bills but then a lot of bad amendments. We need to change things so you can vote on one thing and not fifteen different things in a bill. That will help compromise.”
“Right to work”:
Dake: “Pay in Missouri is $5,500 a year more than in 22 other right-to-work states like Kansas. I grew up in Kansas and they have had RTW for years and they are broke. Why has not all the industry moved from Missouri to Kansas?”
Moon: “I’m for freedom and employers should be able to pay what they want, and if the workers are not getting what they think they should, they can find another job. M & M’s just built their first new plant in years and they picked Kansas because of lower taxes and RTW.”
Gun ownership:
Moon: “I own one pistol and five long guns”
Dake: “I probably have thirty or forty guns but only one pistol. I’m spouse broke- she doesn’t like pistols, so I only have one.”
Memorable lines:
Dake: “I haven’t created a lot of jobs but I have nine people working at the Dake Clinic, which makes it one of the biggest businesses in Miller.”
Moon: “Dr. Dake is my friend and he has been my veterinarian for years. I’m not running these negative ads and I detest that. Anything coming out negative is not from me.”
Dake: “My son says I’m a Republican and just don’t know it.”
Dake: “Mike Moon, you are no Ronald Reagan and I am no Barack Obama.”
Key positions talked about in the debate:
Medicaid Expansion
For- Dake
Against- Moon
RTW
For- Moon
Against- Dake
Prevailing Wage
For- Dake
Against- Moon
Abortion
For-
Against- Moon & Dake
Gun Control
For-
Against- Dake & Moon
School Choice
For- Moon
Against- Dake
