Did you miss Greene County Lincoln Day? Here's what the GOP candidates had to say

Republicans vying for statewide offices gathered at the Greene County Lincoln Day to inform attendees of their plans, should they be elected to their respective positions.

Morning panels gave attendees the chance to hear from Republican candidates for Missouri attorney general, treasurer, secretary of state and lieutenant governor, though some notable candidates were not in attendance.

Although there was no panel for gubernatorial candidates to debate, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft made appearances at the luncheon to speak to prospective voters. Campaign staff for state Sen. Bill Eigel plastered parked cars with flyers under their windshield wipers that promoted his bid for governor.

Other notable attendees included U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison, who delivered remarks during the luncheon, as well as Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick and Greene County Sens. Lincoln Hough and Curtis Trent. Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft was also in attendance.

Greene County’s Missouri House Reps. Alex Riley and Melanie Stinnett moderated the morning panels, and Reps. Bill Owen and Darin Chappell spoke with attendees during the day.

Will Scharf explains why he’s a good fit for Missouri attorney general

The morning’s first panel featured candidates for Missouri attorney general — or at least one candidate, Will Scharf. Current Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s absence was noted, giving Scharf the exclusive attention of attendees. Bailey was appointed to the office last year after then-Attorney General Eric Schmitt won his election to the U.S. Senate.

“Governor Parson had his choice of attorney general last year, and this August, Missouri Republicans are going to have their choice of attorney general,” Scharf said. “I think it's very important that we all get a say in this process.”

Scharf used the opportunity to update the audience on former President Donald Trump’s ongoing legal battles. Scharf is part of Trump’s legal team and was personally involved with the recent case deciding Trump’s eligibility on statewide ballots, in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Trump would remain on the ballot.

He spoke about four of Trump’s ongoing court cases, including a New York case involving business records violations, a Georgia case involving the results of the 2020 election, a Florida case involving classified documents and a case in Washington, D.C., involving the aftermath of the 2020 election. Scharf alleged the overall goal of all these cases is election interference to ensure that Trump is not victorious in his 2024 presidential bid.

“I think it's really important to remember that this is all part of a concerted effort,” Scharf said. “You can't view these cases in isolation.”

Building on his experience in this litigation, the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and his work as a trial lawyer, Scharf explained why he feels he is the most qualified candidate for the office of Missouri attorney general.

“If you want somebody who's going to stand up against the radical left, if you want someone with a proven track record of delivering results for the conservative movement, that's me,” Scharf said.

He continued by saying, “If you think Jefferson City is doing a great job, if you think the establishment that's currently governing this state is doing a great job, I'm probably not the right candidate for you.”

Missouri treasurer candidates debate visions for the office

Three Republican candidates for Missouri treasurer spoke at this panel for the Greene County Lincoln Days — state Sen. Andrew Koenig, state Rep. Cody Smith and current Treasurer Vivek Malek. Springfield attorney and candidate for treasurer Lori Rook was absent from the event.

Each candidate was asked what they thought the role of the Missouri treasurer was, or should be. Smith, who serves as House budget chairman, touted the potential for that office to find instances to save and give back to the public.

“I have a passion for giving you back as much of your money as possible,” Smith said. “Typically, the government only takes from you, but I like to implement policies that give you your money back.”

Malek organized his priorities around three Ps — to protect, provide and promote. He exercises the role of the protector by guarding taxpayer dollars and ensuring they are invested in areas that they can be profitable and safe, while also divesting from foreign adversaries. He aims to provide by ensuring low-interest loans are available to those who need them.

“When it comes to providing opportunities, I have been working hard, making sure that during these tough times of Bidenomics we have loans available for small businesses and our farmers at low interest rates,” Malek said.

In terms of promotion, he hopes to exemplify the promise of America, saying that he is a “living example of that American dream.” Malek immigrated to the U.S. from India after earning his master’s degrees at Southeast Missouri State University at Cape Girardeau.

Koenig touted his role in implementing school choice in Missouri, indicating his intention to take the program statewide. It is currently housed in the treasurer’s office.

“There's no question that the left is coming in. They’ve taken over institutions. They’re coming after your kids. They’ve taken over our corporations, and so as state treasurer I want to take Missouri's first school choice program and make it statewide,” Koenig said.

Secretary of state candidates talk election security

The panel of Republican secretary of state candidates included Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller, state Rep. Adam Schwadron, and state Sen. Denny Hoskins. Absent from Saturday’s panel was Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, who is also seeking the Republican nomination.

During the panel, Schoeller compared his current duties in the role as Greene County clerk to the responsibilities of the Missouri secretary of state, finding many similarities between the two. Not only is the Greene County clerk responsible for elections, but the office also handles county payroll and various licensing requirements.

Schoeller spoke to the fact that over a third of county clerks across the state were new to their positions after the last election cycle, creating a need for the secretary of state to be someone who understood the responsibilities of that position.

“We need someone experienced to come alongside them to help them in their duties and everything that they do, and I know that I can do that and do it well,” Schoeller said.

When asked how to ensure secure elections in the state, Schoeller pointed to the chain of custody in transferring ballots, which refers to the detailed log of every movement a ballot makes in its journey to being recorded.

“One of the things we learned from 2020 because we had a much higher volume of ballots being returned by mail is how critically important it is to make sure that every time that ballot moves, we have paperwork for them,” Schoeller said.

Schwadron pointed to his actions in the Missouri House as a member of the Elections and Elected Officials committee, when he pushed for absentee ballot signature verification. He also advocated for meticulous training to ensure election workers and county clerks were prepared.

“I want to make sure all of our clerks have the necessary training tools and equipment to do the job, and to do it right the first time,” Schwadron said.

Hoskins touted his efforts to break Democratic filibusters in the Senate when lawmakers sought to pass voter ID laws. He is also a supporter of implementing paper ballots in all elections. Hoskins also proposed installing security cameras at polling locations.

“I've always said that I believe the most secure elections are in-person with a voter ID on Election Day with a paper ballot,” Hoskins said.

More: Missouri voting FAQ

Lieutenant governor candidates share qualifications, goals for office

Saturday morning’s final panel of speakers included two candidates for lieutenant governor, state Sens. Lincoln Hough and Holly Thompson Rehder. Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher was absent from the panel, an absence made more noticeable by his name card sitting in front of a vacant seat.

Both candidates were asked about the role of Missouri’s lieutenant governor, and how they planned to fulfill that role if elected. Hough, as chair of the Senate Appropriations committee, pointed to his hand in ensuring that veterans programs were fully funded in the state, as the state’s second-in-command serves as the state’s veterans’ advocate.

“I would say huge successes in our veterans advocacy through our appropriations process as well as advocating for our senior population,” Hough said.

Additionally, the lieutenant governor is a member of the state’s tourism board. Hough feels that “the tourism side of this office is infinitely important and should never be downplayed.”

Thompson Rehder pointed to the fact that the lieutenant governor must fulfill the role of governor should anything happen to the person elected to be in that position, just as Gov. Mike Parson took over when former Gov. Eric Greitens resigned.

“To me, I'm the most conservative in this race, and I think that that matters,” Thompson Rehder said. “It absolutely matters.”

She touted her accomplishments working on the Second Amendment Preservation Act and advancing right-to-work legislation, which voters struck down when brought to the ballot box. She was also involved in efforts to block transgender athletes from participating in girls sports.

Both were asked about their top accomplishments as legislators, to which Thompson Rehder mentioned the “Save Girl’s Sports Act” and a prescription drug monitoring program, which she feels will reduce opioid abuse through prescription drugs.

“Missouri was the only state that did not allow our medical professionals to see what medication their patients were on,” Thompson Rehder said.

Hough shared his accomplishment of securing the biggest income tax cut in state history.

“Over a billion dollars going back into the pockets of everyday working Missourians, in every single county in every corner of the state,” Hough said. “I absolutely believe that you all know better how to spend your money than the government does.”

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Republicans gather in Springfield for Greene County Lincoln Day