Press Releases

Gaw Announces Broad List of Endorsements

July 23, 2008

Gaw Announces Broad List of Endorsements

Steve Gaw, former Democratic Speaker of the House, released a raft endorsements this week in his bid for the ninth congressional district Democratic nomination. The endorsements came from labor union locals, a newspaper, and political leaders.

"I am honored to announce the endorsements of former State Representatives Tim Harlan, Sam Leake, Nancy Copenhaver, Randall Relford, and Sam Berkowitz," said Gaw. "These endorsements demonstrate that I can bring together the urban and rural parts of this district, from Columbia to Kahoka. Bringing together the urban and rural parts of this district is the only way to win in November, and this shows I can do it."

"Winning in November is the only way to make real change," said Harlan, who represented part of Columbia. "Steve Gaw is the only Democrat who can do that."

Other endorsing former State Representatives emphasized Gaw's moderate political positions. "I worked with him in the House of Representatives for several years," said Sam Berkowitz, whose district included Clark, Knox, Lewis, Schuyler, and Scotland counties. "He was able to work with both sides of the aisle to solve problems facing Missouri families. That is why he can win voters in my part of the ninth district, and why he can win in November."

"As Speaker, Steve Gaw stood up for farmers and agriculture. He understands the problems facing farmers and agricultural communities," said former State Representative Sam Leake, who represented parts of Audrain, Lincoln, Monroe, Pike, Ralls, and Shelby counties. "We need that in a Congressman. And we need that in a candidate if we want to win."

Throughout the campaign, Gaw has emphasized his strength as a general election candidate by arguing that he can win highly Democratic Boone County and pull in rural voters through his agricultural background and geographic base in rural areas. Gaw's rural roots were most visibly on display in his first television commercial, which used footage from Gaw's parents' horse farm.

In addition to using rural images in television ads, Gaw's campaign has argued his electability by citing the comments of University of Missouri Political Science Professor Marvin Overby. During an interview with KBIA radio, Overby argued that "someone like a Steve Gaw, with those more rural roots, that more rural appeal, might be able to bleed off some of the normal Republicans ... [a] candidate like State Representative Judy Baker might be popular in a college town such as Columbia, she probably won't attract voters district wide."

Gaw also announced an endorsement from Communication Workers of America locals 6310 and 6320. "We are endorsing Steve Gaw because he supports the needs of the middle class," said Bob Murray of local 6320. "He supports giving workers the choice to unionize more easily if they want to. Most importantly, he can enact the change we need because he can win in November."

The Monroe County Appeal also endorsed Gaw in its July 17th edition. The Appeal supported Gaw based, "upon experience, reputation and familiarity with our area and its problems and concerns."

"This is a broad swath of endorsements," said Gaw's campaign manager, Jeremiah Levine. "It shows that we can appeal to blue collar workers, people in Columbia, and rural voters. We're the only candidate in the race who can do that, and that's the only way to win."

In his private life, Gaw raises horses on a farm outside Holts Summit. The former House Speaker was raised on a farm north of Moberly and attended a one-room schoolhouse there. He graduated with honors and a physics degree from Truman College, and later earned a law degree at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

In 1992 Gaw was elected to the Missouri State House, beginning his state-level political career. He served as Speaker of the Missouri House from 1996 to 2001. "As Speaker, I built a strong record of standing up for middle class families," said Gaw. "I helped get rid of the state sales tax on food, helped create Missouri's children's health insurance program, made college more affordable, required sex offenders to register with local authorities, and created the no call list. All that means that more people saved money, saw the doctor, went to college, stayed safe, and avoided harassment because I stood up for middle class Missourians."

After leaving the state legislature, Gaw was appointed by Governor Holden to a seat on Missouri's utility regulating body, the Public Service Commission. On the Public Service Commission, Gaw gained the reputation of pushing hard to protect consumers and keep rates down.

Also running for the ninth district Democratic congressional nomination are State Senator Ken Jacob, State Representative Judy Baker, and Marion County Presiding Commissioner Lyndon Bode. The election is August 5th.