Missouri GOP & Democratic Committees Consider Missouri Ballot Questions October 2, 2014

(AP) – The Democrat and Republican parties are weighing in on a pair of proposed constitutional amendments on Missouri’s ballot.

The Missouri Democratic State Committee has passed a resolution opposing proposed Constitutional Amendment 3. The measure would require public school teachers to be evaluated based on student performance and would limit tenure protections.

The Missouri Republican State Committee has voted to endorse proposed Constitutional Amendment 2. That measure would allow allegations of past criminal acts to be used against people facing sex-related charges involving victims younger than 18.

The official actions by the political parties will allow them to campaign on the measures as part of their get-out-the-vote efforts for the Nov. 4 election.
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Sanders Praised As He Makes Dem Chairman Announcement Official August 1, 2013

As expected, Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders is formally stepping down as the Chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party.
Sanders had made his intentions clear several weeks ago. He served two terms in the post.
Sanders has been credited with shoring up the Party’s finances.
Last year, Missouri Democrats held on to the US Senate seat of Sen. Claire McCaskill; the Governor’s mansion with Jay Nixon, the Secretary of State’s Office with Jason Kander and the State Treasurer’s post for Clint Zweifel.
Missouri Democrats, however, remain a small minority in the state legislature.
There are several reports that former Mel Carnahan Chief of Staff Roy Temple, is the likely favorite to replace Sanders.
The formal announcement of Sanders’ stepping down drew praise from soMe of Missouri’s top Democrats.
“”Mike Sanders is a strong leader, and that’s evidenced by the fact that he’s leaving the party strong,” said McCaskill in a statement.
Governor Nixon said, “Mike’s tireless work helped Democrats win five of six statewide races on the ballot last fall. When it comes to Mike’s future in public service in our state, the sky is the limit.”
The Democrat’s likely nominee for Governor in 2016 is Attorney General Chris Koster, “”Mike Sanders has done an outstanding job through his tenure as chairman of the Democratic Party. He brought financial stability and order to our organization. He traveled the state tirelessly and he was eloquent and persuasive on issues important to Democrats across the state.”.
Democrats will probably name a replacement at their state meeting in late August.

Report: Sanders Leaving MoDem Post July 10, 2013

The website ‘Tony’s Kansas City’,reports Missouri Democratic Chairman, Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders will leave his post as one of the leaders of the state’s Democrats later this month.
Sanders has not been shy about telling Missouri Democrats he intends to leave.
It is also not clear Sanders will join in the fight to name his replacement.
Sanders has told insiders they can battle that outside themselves. Sanders expects Missouri Democrats will find a replacement for him by late summer.
Despite GOP dominance in the Missouri Legislature, Democrats won four out of five statewide offices at the polls in 2012
Sanders passed up a chance for a statewide office in 2012, saying he wanted to spend more time with his growing family, but took the volunteer position as Democratic Chair, which involved lots of fundraising.
2014 will be a relatively quiet year in Missouri politics, with the top race likely to be State Auditor Tom Schweich’s bid for re-election.
2016, however, is a presidential year, the Missouri Governor Mansion will be an open seat. Jay Nixon will be termed out. Several other statewide offices will also be on the ballot

Sanders Keeps Post as Missouri Democratic Chair January 29, 2013

Sanders

(AP) — Missouri Democrats have re-elected Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders as chairman of the state party.
Sanders initially became party chairman in November 2011. The state party said Monday he was re-elected during a leadership vote Saturday.
Democrats also elected St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green as vice chairwoman and Kansas City School Board chairman Airick West as party treasurer. He is currently the president of the Kansas City School Board.
Democrats hold five of the six statewide offices in Missouri’s executive branch but have struggled in legislative races. Republicans now control a veto-proof supermajority in both the House and Senate.

Martin Promises More Agressive Missouri GOP January 9, 2013

Martin

(AP) — The new chairman of the Missouri Republican Party said Tuesday that he wants the GOP to be more aggressive in promoting its message and more sophisticated in reaching out to prospective voters.
St. Louis attorney Ed Martin took over as chairman Saturday after ousting David Cole in a close vote of the Missouri Republican State Committee. The shakeup comes after a mixed election for Republicans in which they gained seats in the state House and carried Missouri for presidential candidate Mitt Romney but lost to Democrats in the U.S. Senate, gubernatorial and most other statewide races.
Martin was among those losing candidates, gaining less than 41 percent of the vote against Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster, who carried 56 percent
McCaskill, Nixon and Koster all positioned themselves as moderate candidates. Martin said Republicans failed to persuade voters that they weren’t.
“Our party needs to be making sure we don’t wait until six months before the election to make clear to the public who these people are as to their policies,” Martin said. “I think that’s one of the real failings, if you look back this time. Chris Koster and Jay Nixon and Claire McCaskill, to some extent … I don’t think they were defined as to what their record is.”
Martin said he wants the state Republican Party to be more involved in public policy debates. He points to Nixon’s recent support for expanding the Medicaid health care program to cover more adults. While Nixon says that the expansion initially would be paid for by the federal government, Martin said, Republicans should be noting that it would be an implementation of “Obamacare” funded through higher taxes and debt.
Martin’s desire for Republicans to more aggressively frame the public debate comes as Democrats are attempting to influence the public perception of Martin.
Immediately after Martin’s election, the Missouri Democratic Party released a statement describing him as an “extreme politician.”
Martin said the Democratic response to his selection was evidence of a “bankrupt party” focused on “slash and burn” tactics instead of their own policies.