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Eric Greitens
Eric Greitens

State chamber PAC endorses Greitens, Parson

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The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s political action committee endorsed Republicans Eric Greitens for governor and Mike Parson for lieutenant governor, as well as several legislators up for vote in November.

Earlier this month, Greitens defeated his closest Republican competitor, John Brunner, in the Missouri primaries. He’ll face Democrat Chris Koster for the gubernatorial job in the Nov. 8 general election.

The chamber believes Greitens, a Navy SEAL and the founder of military veteran volunteerism nonprofit The Mission Continues, would collaborate with the organization to improve the state’s business climate. His priorities include right-to-work legislation and litigation reform, according to a news release.

“Missouri voters have the opportunity to elect a high-quality individual with immense potential to inspire positive improvements in our state,” Missouri chamber President and CEO Dan Mehan said in the release. “But even more relevant to this endorsement are Eric Greitens’ pro-business policy positions and his understanding of the many issues facing Missouri companies and entrepreneurs. He supports the business community’s top initiatives as defined in the Missouri 2030 strategic plan.”

In the lieutenant governor race, Parson, a state senator from Bolivar, narrowly defeated Bev Randles in the primaries. Democrat Russ Carnahan, son of former Gov. Mel Carnahan, won his party.

The Missouri Chamber Political Action Committee’s endorsement of Parson is the group’s first backing of a politician running for lieutenant governor.

Officials cited his pro-business record as a senator and member of the Missouri House of Representatives, including litigation reform. On the chamber’s latest vote ratings, he supported 93 percent of pro-business initiatives in line with the chamber’s priorities, according to a release.

“Lieutenant governor is a role that typically doesn’t generate many headlines. However, Missouri’s business community is keenly aware of the impact and influence this position has on policy in our state - especially considering the responsibility to cast tie-breaking votes in the Missouri Senate,” Mehan said in the release. “We need our next lieutenant governor to stand up for the business community and to work to fulfill the goals of the Missouri 2030.”

The chamber’s PAC also endorsed eight candidates for Missouri Senate and 44 candidates for the House.

In endorsing candidates, the organization analyzes economic issues and incumbent candidate vote ratings. The PAC only endorses candidates in competitive races. It also factored the results of a 2015 survey of 1,000 Missouri CEOs, according to a release.

No Springfield-area candidates for senator are on the list. The seven local House candidates are below, listed by district number:
    •    130: Incumbent Republican Jeffrey Messenger;
    •    131: Incumbent Republican Sonya Anderson;
    •    132: Republican Thomas Quinn;
    •    133: Republican Curtis Trent;
    •    135: Republican Steve Helms;
    •    136: Incumbent Republican Kevin Austin; and
    •    140: Incumbent Republican Lynn Morris.

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