Web Search powered by YAHOO! SEARCH
03.31.2008 6:34 am

On license plate, Steelman succumbs to vanity

St. Louis Post-Dispatch
  • Email this
  • Print this

Sarah Steelman may want to move into the governor’s mansion, but here’s one perk she doesn’t approve of: custom license plates for state legislators.

As anyone who’s ever tried to get a parking space in Jefferson City knows, members of Missouri’s General Assembly are issued special license plates, indicating whether they are a senator (”S”) or representative (”R”).

Steelman, a former state senator herself, sounder her disapproval of the practice in a Riverfront Times story last week. Reporter Kathleen McLaughlin apparently tagged along with Steelman on her trip to the opening of trout season at Montauk State Park, where they pulled up behind State Sen. Frank Barnitz - a Democrat who took over Steelman’s senate seat - and his “S-16″ license plate.

“I never used that plate,” Steelman said “almost under her breath,” according to the story.

Steelman adds that “I just don’t think elected officials should be treated any differently than regular citizens … It just doesn’t seem right to me to have a special plate because you’re elected by the people.”

Though that may be true, Steelman does not appear to be necessarily against all special plates. The story points out that Steelman’s car, a 2004 Chevy Suburban, has its own vanity plate, one that plays up to her image as the terror-fighting treasurer: “L1VFRE.”

Sarah Steelman

Plate appearance: Steelman has thoughts on it

Tags:
18 comments

Comments are closed.

I read the article in the Riverfront Times and my question is weather or not Ms. McLaughlin is considered full time staff for the Steelman campaign.

That was nothing more than a campaign ad for Ms. Steelman.

I like Ms. Steelman but Ms. McLaughlin should take her responsibility as a journalist a little more seriously next time.

— Sam
9:19 am March 31st, 2008

Me thinks Mr. Jake might have a little crush on Sweet Sarah…hey Jake, could you get that picture of Sarah any bigger on the posting? it looks like a campaign billboard!

— West End Guy
10:32 am March 31st, 2008

I don’t get it Jake, what’s your point?

She never said that she was against vanity plates. You wrote it here yourself that she did not feel that elected officials should receive special treatment due to their custom special issued plates.

Now, these plates are somewhat different than vanity plates, they are more like special privilage plates.

You wrote youreslf here:

Steelman adds that “I just don’t think elected officials should be treated any differently than regular citizens … It just doesn’t seem right to me to have a special plate because you’re elected by the people.”

— D. Walker
10:33 am March 31st, 2008

I like knowing which cars are reps and senators. As a voter, I want to know where they go and what they do, and sure want to know if one’s parked somewhere they shouldn’t be!!

— Vince Voter
10:49 am March 31st, 2008

Vanity plate arent what gives you special treatment - Just ask the judges that rear ended my son and then used their power to get the police to have him arrested and charged with road rage. The judges were very quick to flash their id and flat told my kid before the police got there that my son was going down for this accident. Getting preferential treatment is simply a matter of demanding it when they want / need it. I think they should have special plates so we know if we are in danger from them and their power.

— IneedUrHelp
1:16 pm March 31st, 2008

Who were the judges involved in this accident. Oh, how I know that these evils are very prevelent and not unsual. We do have a extremely corrupt system of attorneys, judges and police officers. They think that they are the Supreme God.

But more and more of these people will meet their fate.

— D. Walker
2:35 pm March 31st, 2008

One is a Supreme Court Justice and the other his wife - Civil Court. Accident happened in her juristiction and between the two of them, they own St Louis.

— IneedUrHelp
3:01 pm March 31st, 2008

Jake—

It is illegal and violating Steelman’s privacy rights to publicize her plate number (whatever it means)!

I’ll email her the story though and see what Steelman thinks of your journalism practices.

— Ann
5:59 pm March 31st, 2008

Who cares?

— Prime Time
7:13 am April 1st, 2008

Ann–you are kidding, right?

— suzyjax
9:08 am April 1st, 2008

Pages: [1] 2 » Show All