The #mogovdebate forum is taking place at Hendricks Hall in the University of Central Missouri administration building during the annual Missouri Boys State.
Republican gubernatorial candidates former House Speaker and U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, and businessman John Brunner are in attendance. The fourth primary contender, Eric Greitens, is not present, despite Greitens’ previous support of Boys State and attendance as a speaker in several past years.
Just over two hours before the forum was expected to begin, Greitens’ released a new ad, titled “To Them I Say,” to join rotation with three other released ads. All four Republican primary candidates have released at least one television ad.
“Government should do what’s right, not just what’s legal,” Greitens said in the video. “I’m a Navy SEAL ready to lead a conservative revolution against the failed political class. For decades, career politicians have delivered failure. To them I say this: I will expose your lies, root out your corruption and attack politics as usual at every turn. I’m Eric Greitens. This isn’t their government. It’s ours, and we’re taking it back.”
Boys State draws almost 1,000 high school-aged men from across the state participate in the week-long leadership and training program. The participants must have completed their junior year in high school and must have distinguished themselves as leaders in their high school and community, according to UCM, which hosts the annual program at its Warrensburg campus.
Missouri Times managing editor Rachael Herndon will be live streaming from @missouritimes at https://twitter.com/MissouriTimes.
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.
