By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star editorial page columnist
Two weeks to go before the Missouri governor's primary and I am completely perplexed by the campaigns of both Republican candidates.
First of all, where is Kenny Hulshof? For that matter, who is Kenny Hulshof? His name recognition in the Kansas City area barely registers, and he never seems to be around. Maybe he creeps into town in the dead of night.
Sarah Steelman has been more visible, but her campaign style is baffling to me. She reminds me of a student struggling to get through an oral exam that she hasn't prepared for.
Example: Steelman thinks Kansas City should phase out its earnings tax. That's a pretty radical proposal, since the E-tax accounts for 43 percent of the revenue in Kansas City's general fund. You'd think a candidate who suggests such a thing would come to Kansas City well-armed with studies and data explaining how--in theory, anyhow--a growth boom would recoup the lost tax money.
But Steelman brings nothing. So when the question arises, she reacts with shrugs, defensive quips and a vague plan to "work with local government officials to figure out a different revenue source."
Good luck with that.
I.e., according to a recent Steve Penn piece not, not around here. Kenny has major work to do in insuring his respected northeast Missouri brand name is introduced to heavily Republican St. Louis suburbs and Ozark counties by early August. This is by no means a snub of Kansas City, just an intelligent reading of the primary battleground terrain.
Kenny's exemplary record and reputation are more than visible and should form the sound basis for a Star endorsement and an informed voter nomination.