Friends,

It’s so easy to be focused on the presidency every November 4, so much so that we often forget that other issues–legislators, governors, judges, etc–are also on the ballot. Before we go vote tomorrow, I wanted to bring some attention to these other issues and help you make informed decisions at the polls.

First, please download this Kansas City, MO sample ballot (if you’re voting here in Kansas City. If you’re not voting in Kansas City, there will be some overlap, but I’d encourage you to find a sample ballot for your area online.) http://www.kceb.org/electioninfo/sb_1108.pdf

I want to bring some attention to the judges who are up for retention votes on the ballot. I’ve heard some people saying that we should vote to retain all of the judges on the ballot, claiming that they’re all pro-life, pro-family and righteous. I want to take issue with that.

It can be difficult to make informed decisions on the judges, mostly because there is little information out there about them, and I don’t have a lot of information, myself, but I have studied this issue. First, it’s important to understand how judges are appointed here in Missouri:

According to this Wikipedia article, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_Plan (and backed up by my other research,) judges are appointed through the Missouri Plan. First, three judges are selected by a board of lawyers based on their merits and are then presented to the Governor of the state for him to make a selection. If he doesn’t make a selection within sixty days, they board of lawyers appoints one of the three. “At the general election soonest after the completion of one year service, the judge must stand in a ‘retention election’. If a majority vote against retention, the judge is removed from office, and the process starts anew”

I think there are several things wrong with the Missouri Plan, personally, but whatever the case, it’s important we put some effort into investigating these judges up for retention.

Missouri Supreme Court – PATRICIA BRECKENRIDGE -NO to Retain!

Here’s one case in which voting to retain might be a mistake. In this memo from Tony Perkins and the Family Research Council, Perkins criticizes Matt Blunt (our current Republican governor) for selecting BRECKENRIDGE. He then lists several reasons why Breckenridge is not pro-family and cannot be trusted.

I’ve got to agree. If we vote “yes” to retain her, she will be on the Supreme Court for another 12 years before we’re given another chance to review her. (http://missourifamilynetwork.net/89/missouri-judges-2008-general-election-november-4th)

As for the rest of the judges, little is known about them. The Missouri Family Network on this page recommends the following:

• MFN is 95% confident that any judge appointed by Governors Carnahan or Holden are pro-abortion and is prone to engage in activism on life issues, or other such political subjects.
• MFN is 80-90%, or more in some cases, sure that those we otherwise recommend a yes vote to retain are pro-life and practice judicial restrain, according to what we have seen.

I’ve seen a few other pro-family sites on the net also recommending voting in this way. So this is how I’m voting:

• Supreme Court PATRICIA BRECKENRIDGE – NO
• PEGGY S McGRAW – NO (appointed by pro-death D. Gov. Carnahan)
• ANN MESLE – NO (appointed by D Gov Wilson)
• MICHAEL W MANNERS – NO (appointed by D Gov Wilson)
• JOHN R O’MALLEY – YES (appointed by pro-life and righteous R Gov John Ashcroft)
• BRIAN C WIMES – YES (appointed by pro-life R Gov Blunt)
• ROBERT M SCHIEBER – YES (appointed by pro-life R Gov Blunt)
• JOHN M TORRENCE – NO (appointed by pro-death D Gov Holden)
• KELLY J MOORHOUSE – NO (appointed by pro-death Holden)
• ROBERT BEAIRD – NO (Holden)
• VERNON E SCOVILLE – YES (Ashcroft)
• ROBERT L TROUT – YES (Ashcroft)

Non-Judicial Races – Here’s a great guide http://www.missourilife.org/mrl_pac/2008generalendorsements.pdf My recommendations (or lack thereof) are below:

• President - John McCain (pro-life)
• Governor - Kenny Hulshof (pl)
• Lieutenant Governor - Peter Kinder (note: Kinder has a mixed record when it comes to life. I don’t think I can vote for him.) His democratic opponent, Sam Page, is Pro-Death. Libertarian Teddy Fleck is Pro-Life, and Constitution party James C. Rensing is strongly pro-life.)
• Secretary of State - Mitch Hubbard – (pl)
• State Treasurer - Not sure of any of their stances. You decide.
• Attorney General - Gibbons has a mixed record. Koster is pro-death.
• US Rep, 5th Dist (KC) - Jacob Turk – (pl)
• State Senate -Wilson’s pro-death and Callahan’s record is mixed. I can’t vote for either.
• State Rep, 37th Dist - Talboy’s pro-death…nope.
• State Rep, 39th Dist - Low’s pro-death. I’ll probably vote Weber (lib).
• State Rep, 40th Dist - Burnett’s pro-death. No Go.
• State Reps, 41st-44th Dists - Curls, Hughes, LeBlanc and Kander are all pro-death. I can’t vote for them. Unfortunately, there’s not alternative on the ballot for them.
• 45th Dist. – I’m voting Main
• 46th (see 41st-44th above)
• 48th Dist - Krais is pro-life.
• 49th-51st - all pro-death, can’t vote.
• 52nd - Hisch
• Prosecuting Attorney - not sure where Kanatzar stands.
• Sheriff - Ernie Griffin – well, they’re just Sheriff’s. Not sure where they stand on the life issue. Sharp looks pretty Sharp, but Ernie looks like he’ll kick some… Oops! Just check out GiveEmHellErnie.com! I’ll probably vote for him, just ‘cuz he looks like a Sheriff! And he looks like he’ll give ‘em hell. And his last name is close to Andy Griffith’s last name–you know–Griffin. I think it’s a sign.

The Issues – I’m not citing my sources, but I did my research.

• Amendment No. 1 - I’m voting Yes. It just makes sense.
• Amendment No. 4 - I’m voting Yes.
• Proposition A – NO WAY! Sure, it limits the number of casinos, but it takes loss limits away for good! Gambling for education…something’s just not right about this.
• Proposition B - NO
• Proposition C - YES (some are against this, but I think we need renewable energy really badly, even if it hurts a little. It only affects a few of the largest energy providers in MO, and one of those providers are coming out in favor of it. The others aren’t taking a position.)
• Light Rail -  I’m not going to have to pay the hiked tax since we’ll be moving soon (unless I move back sometime in the next 25 years. hmmmm.)  Ah, there’s way too much road construction in this city already.

Well, I hope this was helpful. Let’s get out there and see Righteousness and Justice furthered.

Call your family, friends. Convince them to vote for McCain if they’re not already. Convince those who are voting for McCain/Palin to get to the polls. Seriously.

Update - Here’s our cheat sheet if you want to print it off, cut/fold and put in your back pocket. CHEAT_SHEET.doc

Brandon