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Candidate Forums Held Before the Aug. 7 Primary

As the Aug. 7 primary elections near, candidates and interested parties made their way to forums Tuesday to talk about “right to work,” fireworks wars, racial issues and other matters on their minds.

The League of Women Voters held a candidate and ballot issue forum at 6:30 p.m. in the Friends Room of the Columbia Public Library, and the NAACP organized a candidate forum at 7 p.m. in the Second Missionary Baptist Church.

Despite being scheduled on the same night, attendance for both forums was robust, with an audience of 90 at the League of Women Voters forum and nearly 70 at the NAACP forum.

Candidates included Democratic 4th District congressional candidates Hallie Thompson and Renee Hoagenson; Taylor Burks and Brianna Lennon, running for Boone County clerk; Kevin O’Brien and Stephanie Morrell, running for Division 11 associate circuit judge; Tracy Gonzalez and Steve Wilson, running for Division 9 associate circuit judge; Nora Dietzel, running for Boone County recorder of deeds; Dan Atwill and David Seamon, running for Boone County presiding commissioner; and Ayanna Shivers, running for Missouri’s 10th District state Senate seat.*

David Lile from KFRU moderated the first forum, and NAACP member Pam Hardin moderated the second. There were also presentations from a supporter and opponent of Proposition A, the statewide "right-to-work" ballot issue, and from the Columbia’s utilities department about Proposition 1, a $42.8 million water bond issue.

Matthew Panik, a lobbyist for the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, and Paul Rainsberger, *a retired director of the MU Labor Education Program who was speaking as a volunteer with Jobs With Justice, spoke about Proposition A at the League of Women Voters’ forum.

If the right-to-work proposition is passed, Panik said, it would allow workers to opt out of paying union dues.

“It’s pro-worker, pro-business and good for the economy,” he said.

Studies his organization has looked at indicate the possibility of a small wage increase if Missouri becomes a right-to-work state, Panik said. He added that it’s important to give workers a choice about paying dues to a union.

Rainsberger cited Mississippi, a right-to-work state with the lowest median income in the country, as a negative consequence of right-to-work laws. He told the audience that, by law, no one can be forced to join a union, but unions are required to bargain on behalf of all workers, not just union members.

He ended by saying unions should use their collective bargaining power for good.

“I believe that as long as some people are forced to work for others for the sake of their economic security, there will always be some form of worker organization,” Rainsberger said. “It’s the only way people have a voice.”

Atwill and Seamon, who are seeking the Democratic nomination for presiding commissioner, were asked about liability issues surrounding the recent fireworks wars. Atwill, the incumbent, warned people that the fireworks involved are not sparklers, but 3-inch and 4-inch mortars. He told the crowd that Sheriff Dwayne Carey is firm about wanting to make it a crime to shoot fireworks at someone.

Atwill added he has to draw a line when the welfare of children and safety personnel are at stake.

“At some point, you have to say no,” he said.

Seamon said he would like to have seen invested parties gather in a room and talk it out, only resorting to legislation if no compromise could be reached. He suggested fireworks war organizers find a different event, like midnight basketball games that went on when he was growing up.

The NAACP forum focused on issues involving race. The congressional candidates fielded questions from the audience about privilege and systemic racism.

Both Thompson and Hoagenson acknowledged their privilege as white women. Thompson called for diversity in representation, while Hoagenson said she wanted to see “a cross-section of teachers” where diversity in education would benefit students.

Shivers offered her perspective as a black woman growing up with no black teachers and said it is time for her to be there for her community.

The clerk candidates were asked questions regarding polling places and voter identification. Both said they want to increase accessibility to polling locations.

Candidates for associate circuit judge answered questions about the pipeline-to-prison issue, sentencing and the cash bail system regarding people of color.

In order to avoid a pipeline, all candidates agreed that cases should be treated individually when sentencing. They also agreed that the cash bail system and sentencing should take into account the individual’s prior experiences and opportunities rather than just the charges.

Hardin concluded the NAACP forum by reminding the audience the importance of voting.

“This is one of the most important elections,” Hardin said. “We can’t afford to stay home.”