This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon: July 13, 2008
Ken Jacob
Lately, Ken Jacob might be known for the two primary debates he’s waged with Rep. Bob Onder, R-Lake St. Louis, over Onder’s abortion bill (more on that tomorrow.) But in the four years since Jacob left political life after losing the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor in 2004, the debates in Columbia and Wentzville were the first he’d participated in.
“Like Baker, he is one of the more liberal people on the Democratic side,” says Marvin Overby, a political science professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia. And though Jacob is pro-choice, that stance isn’t one he’s known for.
But debating is.
“Ken is a very strong-willed individual,” says Terry Jones, a professor of political science at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. “Ken has always been a fighter.” Because of that, Jones says Jacob is a strong advocate for whatever position he holds. He served as senate minority leader during his time as a senator, and Jones thinks that brought out even more of Jacob’s fighting spirit.
Fighting isn’t an issue that itself brings home anything for voters, however. But education is, and it’s something Jacob made a part of his career as a legislator in both the House and Senate.
“Ken spent considerably more time on education policy than any other type of policy,” Jones says.
The results of some of that work are still around.
In 1986, Jacob sponsored the original legislation that became Bright Flight, a program that seeks to keep Missouri’s top students at Missouri universities. The program rewards high school seniors who get an ACT or SAT score in the top 3 percent statewide with a $2,000 annual scholarship. That money is good for up to 10 semesters.
Jacob also sponsored the Missouri College Guarantee program, which used money from gaming to help low-income students attend Missouri universities.
That legislation ended with Jacob’s time in office. So, if elected, what could be next?
Higher education still matters to Jacob. He has a son in law school, a daughter in college and a nephew who’s just graduated. Jacob says the debts they’ll owe will keep them from doing things past generations were able to do -- get married, buy a house, start a family.
He’d take the model of the Missouri College Guarantee program and try to make it a reality again.
A college education should be an entitlement, he says. But could he get it done?
“A lot of people really don’t like him,” Overby says. “And I think that in particular goes hand in hand with being a fighter.”
Former Republican Missouri representative and senator Jon Dolan represented parts of the 9th district and worked with Jacob. He describes his former colleague as ruthless and funny.
Rep. Paul LeVota, D-Independence, serves as the minority floor leader in the Missouri House. And though he’s supporting Baker, LeVota thinks Jacob would be a good choice, too, and perhaps that willingness to go to battle could deliver for the people of the 9th.
Jacob doesn’t mind the reputation, by the way.
In fact, he promotes it.
Early in his campaign, Jacob challenged his fellow candidates to a debate anytime about anything. At first, Onder was the only one who’d taken him up on that offer, but recently, candidates from both camps have gathered for debates in Columbia.
Ken Jacob
Home: Columbia, Mo.
Professional background: Missouri State House of Representatives, 1982-199; Missouri State Senate, 1996-200; currently general counsel for state Auditor Susan Montee
Finances: Money raised as of March 31, 2008: $79,930 That includes individual donations of $29,930; and money from the candidate of $50,000
Issue: Higher education
For more information: kenjacobcongress.com
Lyndon Bode
Lyndon Bode watched men dig deep trenches on his family’s Palmyra, Mo., farm as a kid. They sliced through the farm’s middle, laid pipe, heaped dirt back on top and left.
Why? he asked.
The pipeline was a national one, his parents answered. It ran from north to south, carrying ammonia gas to people all across the country.
The pipe meant nothing to him or his family, brought them no power, earned them no money. But it helped people in other parts of the country. And it ran right under his feet.
It also helped introduce Bode to infrastructure -- things we use, things we need, things we often overlook.
Bode (pronounced Bo-dee) has spent the past 14 years working on those things in Marion County. During his time as presiding county commissioner, he’s overseen projects repairing 30 bridges, renovating both of the county’s courthouses, adding heating and cooling systems, and working with the highway department to create a three and a half mile loop, called Veteran’s Road, that runs around the west side of Hannibal.
“The road and bridge project has been very successful,” says Willy Richmond, eastern district presiding commissioner for Marion County. Richmond doesn’t want to brag, but they have done a lot.
And if elected to represent the 9th, infrastructure issues would get Bode’s attention.
“I see the need all across the 9th district and all across the country,” Bode says.
That includes repairs to highways 70, 36 and 61, which all run through the district. He’d also pay attention to bridges in hopes of preventing another bridge collapse like the one in Minnesota.
The benefits of putting energy into infrastructure are clear to Bode, at least. The work would create new jobs and help reinvest tax money back into local communities. “It’s not glamorous,” Bode says, “but it’s essential.”
Perhaps, but can it help pull him ahead in the primaries, with little name recognition outside of his community?
“He lives a very long way from Columbia,” says Marvin Overby, political science professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
“He’s not known in any of the places where there’s a significant population of voters, so the first thing he’s got to do is just simply tell people who he is.”
Richmond sees it a little differently. Candidates in Columbia might raise more money, he says.
“They’ll probably outspend him. Other than that, hopefully they’ll split each other’s votes up.”
Richmond has worked with Bode for the past 14 years and calls him diplomatic and fiscally conservative. “Even if we disagree on an issue, he’s still good to work with.”
And while Bode might make a good representative, Overby says, infrastructure isn’t the kind of issue that turns out voters.
“People’s blood doesn’t get up about infrastructure issues,” Overby says.
But Bode’s sure does.
On vacations, when he sees a bridge, he gets excited, stops and examines.
His wife likes to tease him about it.
“She says, ‘Let’s keep moving along,’” Bode says. “I think it’s just something in my blood.”
The 9th Congressional District is getting a lot of attention this primary season beacuse (1) the incumbent is not running for re-election and (2) it is a diverse district that could be open to anyone.
Lyndon Bode
Home: Palmyra
Professional background: Marion County presiding commissioner, 1994-present
Finances: Money raised as of March 31, 2008: $77,100 That includes individual donations of $20,294; and money from the candidate of $56,800
Issue: Infrastructure
For more: lyndonbodeforcongress.com
Kristen Hare is a free-lance journalist.