St. Louis Police endorse Koster; Donnelly touts her large local list
The 1,000-member St. Louis Police Officers’ Association announced this morning that it has endorsed state Sen. Chris Koster, D-Harrisonville, for Missouri Attorney General.
Koster contended that, “together with endorsements from the Missouri State Fraternal Order of Police and the Missouri Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, the association’s endorsement solidifies the law enforcement community’s unanimous support…”
Said Sgt. Gary Wiegert, president of the St. Louis Police Officers’ Association: “Senator Koster understands law enforcement’s needs and challenges because of his long, impressive career fighting to keep sexual predators, violent criminals and methamphetamines off our streets. Senator Koster has championed these issues both as Cass County Prosecuting Attorney and in the State Senate, and we look forward to working hand-in-hand with him when he is our next Attorney General.”
Koster said in a statement: “For my entire professional life, I have stood firmly behind law enforcement because of their steadfast commitment to keeping our communities safe and crime-free. I am honored by the overwhelming support they have shown me in this campaign, and humbled by their belief that my ten years as Cass County Prosecutor make me uniquely qualified to be this state’s next chief law enforcement officer.”
Meanwhile, a rival Democrat — state Rep. Margaret Donnelly of Richmond Heights — rolled out, en masse, a reminder of her earlier local endorsements for attorney general.
They include: St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green, St. Louis City Collector Mike McMillan, Alderwomen April Ford-Griffin and Kacie Starr-Triplett, Aldermen Jeffrey Boyd and Steve Conway, Alderwoman Kacie Starr-Triplett, former aldermanic President Jim Shrewsbury, former St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney Dee Joyce Hayes and Former Supreme Court Justice Ronnie White.
Other St. Louis area Democrats on Donnelly’s list include:
state Senators Joan Bray and Rita Days, state Reps. Rachel Storch, Clint Zweifel, Michael Spreng, Jamilah Nasheed, Michael Vogt, Tom Villa, Jeanette Mott-Oxford, Mike Frame, Robin Wright-Jones, Sam Komo, Maria Chappelle-Nadal, and Mike Daus, former state Treasurer Nancy Farmer, and former state Democratic Party Chair May Scheve, also a former state legislator.
Donnelly also cited a long list of local township and ward endorsements. Overall, she said, “I am excited and honored to have the support of so many prominent officials and organizations in the Saint Louis region.
“As we head towards the crucial choice of the Democratic Party’s nominee for Attorney General, I feel our momentum growing as people hear our message and realize that protecting Missouri’s children and families isn’t just a campaign slogan. It’s what I’ve done all my life in my law practice and in my public service and that is what I will bring to the Attorney General’s Office.”
“the law enforcement community’s unanimous support”
Endorsements hardly represent such a sentiment. Were the votes on the endorsements unanimous? Probably not. Are there members in the organizations that disagree? No doubt.
Can anyone guess how much the endorsements cost Koster?
Take the Attorney General Quiz!
Chris Koster is NOT a Democrat!
Did you know Chris Koster was a prosecutor? He’s soooo kewl.
Some good endorsements for Donnelly but Harris still leads easily in endorsements. http://thewatchword.wordpress.com/2008/06/23/former-lt-governer-joe-maxwell-endorses-jeff-harris/
Most of these endorsements are old. This is likely the campaign trying to look strong here when they are weak.
Donnelly has hardly any endorsements outside of St. Louis. A few in Kansas City and Becky Cook. Donnelly has Cook and Farmer. Harris has Maxwell, Wilson and Hearnes.
The Koster endorsment is not unexpected. The CCP balloting in Koster’s backyard going to Harris with Donnelly a close second and Koster a distant third sort of cemented in my mind what is becoming obvious in democratic circles. Democratic won’t vote for someone who voted for the Medicaid cuts and supported Bush and Ashcroft. His money will help him but people are so negative towards him that he just can’t come close to winning.
Either Harris or Donnelly can win the primary. Harris is a stronger because he is strong across the state and strong across all democratic interest groups. Donnelly has no support outstate. For a democrat to win in Missouri you have to cut your losses outstate.
The implosion of Koster has changed the dynamics of this race. I didn’t think this a month ago but Harris is the slight favorite with Donnelly a close second.
If Koster is “imploding” then why is everyone else focusing on attacking him?
Nick, that’s because he hasn’t fully imploded yet. Plus, a lot of Dems don’t want to see the guy get a single vote.
One question about Donnelly: Is she running for Attorney General of St. Louis? She doesn’t seem to have much support outside St. Louis. Harris’ list, by comparison, shows he’s got significant support from all over the state, not just in one part.
Good point Nick. Its really just Jeffy and his minions as they are all a bit on the immature side. I think by this time next week we might all find this latest “law enforcement” endorsement of Koster the Imposter a bit ironic.
Nick
I hate to be so negative but I have to honestly say I don’t like him. I said that back when I thought he could win and also now that it is slippng away for him.
If it makes you feel any better I have a high opinion of the other Republican in the race Mike Gibbons. I am fairly liberal so I vote for Harris or Donnelly over Gibobons but the world would not be a bad place if Mike Gibbons was attorney general. He seems to me to be a very fair man. My husband is also a supporter of his.
shecky, it’s a St. Louis area release for a St. Louis newspaper. Of course Margaret Donnelly is going to highlight her St. Louis endorsements.
She has many endorsements from around the state. The list so far: http://www.donnelly08.com/endorsements