Nixon touts grassroots support in Saline County campaign stop

From left, Marshall City Councilman Sam Moten talks with Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon during Nixon's campaign stop in Marshall Saturday, Oct. 27. Nixon faces Gov. Matt Blunt in an already-heated race for governor. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon, touting his grassroots appeal and support for the common people of the state, brought his campaign for governor to Saline County Saturday, Oct. 27.

Nixon visited the Wood & Huston Bank community room, which was packed with supporters who gave him standing ovations as he began and concluded his remarks.

Nixon said he was proud of the number of small donors his campaign has attracted, more than 12,000 so far.

"The only way to win a campaign like this is to have a huge army behind you," he said.

And he issued a personal invitation to everyone present to "the largest potluck inaugural dinner in history."

Nixon spoke briefly on key issues that he said set him apart from his opponent, Gov. Matt Blunt.

Among them were issues that Nixon and Blunt have sparred about for some time, including health care, education, the fate of the Katy Bridge in Boonville and the confined animal feeding operation (CAFO) controversy here in Saline County.

Farmer Dennis Gessling has received permission from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to begin building a 4,800-hog CAFO two miles from Arrow Rock.

A group of Arrow Rock residents opposes the operation, siting its proximity to the Arrow Rock State Historic Site, and the village, along with several partners, has sued the DNR in an attempt to halt construction.

"We all understand the needs of agriculture, (but) you don't approve CAFO permits next to parks," Nixon said.

The DNR, which has authority over both issuing CAFO permits and managing state parks and historic sites, has defended the permit, saying Gessling followed existing regulations.

DNR officials have said they have no authority to deny a permit if it meets state standards.

Nixon was critical of the current situation, which puts DNR in charge of both sides of the CAFO controversy. He said if he is elected he would consider making changes in both the DNR's personnel and regulations to help prevent situations like this one.

Regarding the long battle over the fate of the Katy Bridge in Boonville, the Western District Court of Appeals ruled Oct. 23 against Nixon's position, saying the state has no property rights to the bridge, which Union Pacific intends to remove.

Nixon has lead opposition to the move, arguing the bridge is important to the Katy Trail system.

Another long-time Nixon foe, DNR Director Doyle Childers, said last week the court's decision will put an end to years of "legal wrangling and the wasting of taxpayer dollars."

But Nixon said Saturday the fight is not over, pledging to take the case to the state Supreme Court.

"That bridge isn't going to be torn down until the Supreme Court says it can," he said.

Nixon said he opposes the use of tax money to support private schools, which is what he believes voucher programs supported by Blunt would have done.

He also pledged to restore funding to state health care programs that have been cut in recent years.

Contact Eric Crump at

marshalleditor@socket.net