The past year was full of watershed political moments in St. Louis and the state of Missouri, but what will have the greatest implications for 2016? On Wednesday’s “St. Louis on the Air,” host Don Marsh picked the brains of two people who know best: St. Louis Public Radio’s Jo Mannies and Jason Rosenbaum, political reporters and hosts of the podcast Politically Speaking.
The two have been reporting extensively on local political stories with national implications. Join them both on Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. for a live Politically Speaking event with Senator Jamilah Nasheed and Former House Speaker Steve Tilley.
Here are a few of the stories that they consider the biggest of 2015:
- Former Missouri Auditor Tom Schweich's suicide and its political implications
- Mistreatment of interns and women in Jefferson City, John Diehl
- Abortion, Planned Parenthood
- State and local politics' role in proposal for St. Louis' riverfront stadium
- St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger's first year in office
- Ferguson-related policy and municipal court reform.
Here's what they're looking toward as a big story of 2016: Missouri Governor Jay Nixon's last year in office and the race to fill his seat.
"I think it is not only going to be a decision and referendum on whether the Democrats are going to be able to hold that office, but a referendum on what constitutes leadership," said Rosenbaum. "As we saw over the past year and half, we had a governor who was put through crisis and at times stumbled, and I think that the five candidates running are going to have to put forward a rationale that they would potentially do a better job leading Missouri and bringing divisions together."
"St. Louis on the Air" discusses issues and concerns facing the St. Louis area. The show is produced by Mary Edwards, Alex Heuer and Kelly Moffitt and hosted by veteran journalist Don Marsh. Follow us on Twitter and join the conversation at @STLonAir.
