This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Oct. 9, 2012 - For most of his political life, Jay Nixon has had a reputation as a maverick at times at odds with fellow Democrats.
Sometimes it was a minus, as in the 1990s, when he touched off anger -- and threatened boycotts at the polls -- from African-American Democrats in St. Louis furious over his actions while Missouri attorney general to phase out the state’s involvement in the city’s school desegregation program.
But now, Nixon’s political independence is seen by many allies as a strong plus in a state that has politically become more red -- and a key reason he handily was elected as governor in 2008, amassing almost a 20-point margin over his GOP rival, Kenny Hulshof.
Although he has occasionally tangled with the Republicans controlling the General Assembly, Nixon’s above-the-fray approach – which does have its bipartisan critics – arguably has helped him avoid the pitfalls that plagued the last Democratic governor, Bob Holden, who was in the same political predicament.
Nixon disputes any such go-it-alone characterization, although he makes a point in his public speeches – campaign or official – of highlighting how he “works across the aisle to get things done.”
Even in his speeches at Democratic functions, Nixon generally leaves the biting partisan shots to others.
"I think that’s been my role as governor, to try to bring folks together, Democrats and Republicans, urban and rural,” Nixon said in an interview. “The campaign just presents another forum to continue to do that.”
Nixon insists that such talk isn’t simply political-speak but a sincere view of public life that he had been taught as a young boy back in Jefferson County.
“Around the kitchen table in DeSoto, my mom was on the school board and rose to be president, my dad was the mayor,” Nixon recalled. “I grew up in a household that was involved in the issues and challenges of our time.
“When the phone would ring and I’d go answer it, I'd come back to the table with some problem,” Nixon continued, “My mom and dad never asked if it was a Democrat or Republican who called.”
Veteran political figure in Missouri
Now 56, Nixon has held public office in Missouri for 26 years. He graduated from law school at the University of Missouri-Columbia and within a few years had been elected state senator from Jefferson County.
He made his first bid for statewide office in 1988 when he challenged then-U.S. Sen. John C. Danforth, R-Mo., for the U.S. Senate. Nixon got creamed, winning less than a third of the vote against an incumbent who already had a reputation for bridging partisan divisions.
In 1992, Nixon ran for Missouri attorney general in a crowded contest – for the primary and general election – that was filled with personal attacks on all sides. His general election battle against Republican David Steelman featured the two calling each other a liar in a televised debate.
Nixon won amid a Democratic wave and never faced a serious Republican challenger again as he held a record four terms as attorney general. (He and Steelman also made peace and have worked together on policy issues during Nixon’s tenure as governor.)
Nixon did attract some speculation that he might challenge a fellow Democrat, then-Gov. Mel Carnahan, in 1996 – prompting Nixon to make a public speech quashing such talk.
In 1998, Nixon made a second unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate, this time against another Republican icon, Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond. Nixon garnered just under 44 percent of the vote.
Nixon then surprised pundits when he declined to run for governor in 2000 or 2004, but he killed off any further speculation when he made clear early in 2005 that he was looking at 2008.
By that time, Nixon had developed a law-and-order reputation and had become a public favorite with his creation of the state’s “No Call List” which since then has gone national. But he also came under fire in 2007 when critics challenged his use of his official car for some campaign events; Nixon chose to reimburse the state for $55,000 in transportation costs.
Nixon also was the acknowledged Democratic rival to then-Gov. Matt Blunt, a Republican. The two tangled on a number of issues, including allegations that the governor’s staff had violated the Sunshine Law, which resulted in a special investigative team named by Nixon. Nixon also opposed the state’s 2005 Medicaid cuts, approved by Blunt, that cut or eliminated benefits for about 300,000 poor, elderly or disabled Missourians.
Nixon’s 2008 campaign included a call to restore those cuts. Blunt unexpectedly dropped out in January 2008 and was replaced by then-U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof, R-Columbia.
Impact of economic downturn
After handily defeating Hulshof and taking office, Nixon confronted huge financial problems as a result of the national economic downturn. Instead of restoring programs, Nixon was forced to make dramatic budget trims. He cut more than $1.5 billion from state programs and personnel during his first two years in office to keep the state’s budget balanced, as required by the state constitution.
Nixon did make an unsuccessful effort early on to expand Medicaid to about 35,000 Missourians, under a deal with Missouri hospitals that would not have increased the state’s costs. But it was blocked by the General Assembly.
Nixon said that it’s often overlooked that his administration has been able to add 56,000 poor children to the federal and state health insurance program known as SCHIP, with no additional cost to taxpayers. He also cites his administration’s success, in working with allied Republicans, to block an effort to eliminate health coverage to about 4,000 blind Missouri residents.
Nixon, head of the Missouri Democratic Party, says his bipartisan approach to governing isn't getting in the way of that job -- although he emphasizes that he usually focuses on politics only on weekends. "We have a good strong group of candidates running, especially on a statewide level,'' he said. "I know them all. They are strong and working hard."
But when asked about the most unexpected challenges facing his administration, Nixon allowed that the biggest obstacles didn't come from Republicans but from nature.
That was especially true in 2011. Among Nixon's examples were the devastating tornadoes that plowed north St. Louis County, including the main terminal at Lambert St. Louis International Airport, and flattened parts of Joplin, Mo., killing at least 158 people.
And then there was the Mississippi River flooding, which prompted federal authorities to destroy levees in southeast Missouri, which he notes was over his objections.
The victims of those catastrophes, Nixon emphasized, came from all political parties. That brings him back to his favorite topic -- his commitment to serve all Missourians, whether they have voted for him or not.
For every member of the General Assembly, Republican or Democrat, Nixon said that his message, campaign or official, will be the same: "Their constituents become my constituents."
