State Treasurer Sarah Steelman is no longer running for re-election. She’s in the race for governor.
Treasurer Sarah Steelman, a Republican from Rolla, announced during the lunch hour Tuesday she was running for re-election. Steelman made the announcement in the kitchen of the Jefferson City home in which she grew up, a house her parents still call home. Steelman made the formal announcement with her husband, Dave, and two of her children at her side.
Four hours later, Governor Blunt announced he wasn’t running for re-election. Steelman reconsidered.
Saturday, Steelman traveled to Springfield to announce her candidacy for governor at the home of Tom and Leigh Ann Hearne. Steelman’s campaign will use the same slogan she unfurled in her re-election announcement, "Power to the People". Steelman says she will concentrate on three issues in her run for governor: the economy, health care affordability and college affordability. She says she plans to listen a lot as well, hearing what Missourians want from their government.
Steelman denies she ever entertained notions of running against Blunt in the Republican primary, a persistent rumor around the Capitol. She tells the Missourinet she had decided to only consider running for governor if Matt Blunt decided not to run for re-election.
Steelman joins Lt. Governor Peter Kinder as Republicans who have announced their candidacy. We might know more soon. Among Republicans considering a run for governor are House Speaker Rod Jetton of Marble Hill, former Speaker Catherine Hanaway of Warson Woods, Congressman Kenny Hulshof of Columbia, Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson of Cape Girardeau and State Senate Majority Leader Charlie Shields of St. Joseph.
Download/listen Brent Martin reports (:60 MP3)
