Neal Boyd to run for Mo. House

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Sikeson native Neal Boyd has sung for Presidents, governors and congresspeople. Now the opera-singing winner of the reality TV show “America’s Got Talent” wants to enter the political arena himself. 

Boyd announced his plans to run for the Missouri House of Representatives in the 160th district, which includes parts of Cape Girardeau, Scott, Mississippi and New Madrid counties.

Politics is not foreign to Boyd. He graduated with a degree in political science from Southeast Missouri State University, where he also served as student president.

"You know I had two idols in my life: Luciano Pavarotti and Ronald Reagan. And I wanted to be like both of them. And now here I am. I’ve hopefully made one proud posthumously. I want to make the other one proud posthumously. I never got to meet these men. But I studied them my whole life."

Boyd will run as a Republican to replace Ellen Brandom, who will be term-limited next year. The only other candidate in the race is Republican businesswoman Holly Rahder. No Democrat has entered the race.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

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Kinder responds to ex-stripper's allegations

Missouri Lieutenant Governor and assumed Republican gubernatorial candidate Peter Kinder responded to allegations on Thursday that he made repeated inappropriate advances on a former stripper and Penthouse pet.

The Riverfront Times reported on Tuesday that Tammy Chapman called Peter Kinder one of her best customers when she worked at a strip club in the mid-1990s. She broke off all contact with Kinder, then a state Senator, when he allegedly became too aggressive with her.

An online photo recently began circulating that shows Kinder and Chapman together at a St. Louis bar that features so-called "pantsless parties."

Kinder issued a statement Thursday, saying "Like most people I am not proud of every place I have been but this woman's bizarre story is not true." Kinder continues, "The Democrats have tried to use these tactics against me in the past and they have failed."

Southeast Missouri State University political science professor Will Miller says Kinder didn’t do anything illegal, but the allegations could short-circuit his campaign.

"He is a single guy, but it still questions the decision-making capability which is just a question you can’t afford when you’re already down in the polls and you’re behind in money," Miller says.

Miller also says that Kinder’s scandal could affect his social conservative base.

Kinder is widely expected to announce is candidacy for governor in September.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

Photo: Peter Kinder and Tammy Chapman at Vernin's bar. Courtesy of The Riverfront Times.

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Sikeston entrepreneur enters race for Mo. House

SIKESTON, MO (KRCU) - A Sikeston entrepreneur entered the ring to take Ellen Brandom’s place in the Missouri House of Representatives. Holly Rehder will seek the Republican nomination in Missouri’s 160th District, which covers New Madrid, Scott and parts of Cape Girardeau County.

Rehder owns and runs Integrity Communication with her husband in Sikeston. She thinks her business experience will be an asset in the General Assembly.

"We all know that small business is the engine of our economy and right now the economy is what needs to be focused on," Rehder said. "And when we have, you know, certain lawmakers who don’t mind putting more regulation and more regulation on the back of small businesses, it’s just crushing us. And I think we need more people who have more skin in the game who don’t mind to stand there and fight and hold the line."

Rehder has also served as a staffer for Jo Ann Emerson. She says that she holds Emerson and Ellen Brandom as political models and mentors.

Brandom is seeking to replace Jason Crowell in Missouri Senate. Crowell cannot run again due to term limits, though he is considering a run for state-wide office.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

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Nixon out raises Kinder in 2011's second quarter

(KRCU) - Governor Jay Nixon raised more money during 2011’s second quarter than his most likely Republican rival.

Nixon raised more than $1.4 million between May and June 2011.

Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder brought in $970 thousand during the same time period.

Kinder, a Republican from Cape Girardeau, has not yet announced his candidacy for the governorship, though he is widely expected to run in the 2012 election.

Last week, Republican House Speaker Steve Tilley announced he is running to take Kinder’s spot as the Lieutenant Governor, saying that Kinder is most certainly not going to seek re-election for this current post.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

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Tilley announces candidacy for Lieutenant Governor

A Southeast Missouri politician announced his candidacy for state-wide office Thursday.

Missouri House Speaker Steve Tilley says he wants to the next Lieutenant Governor.

Tilley, a Republican from Perry County, has served in the Missouri House since 2004. He already has raised over one million dollars for his election campaign.

He says that he has some ideas for how he would like to use the office.

“Some states use their Lieutenant Governor as kind of like an ombudsman for economic development, and I can see myself, if elected, that’s willing to travel out of the state to visit with companies that are thinking about expanding or relocating and explaining why Missouri would be a good choice for them,” Tilley said.

Current Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder, who is also a Republican, is widely expected to run run for Governor in 2012. He has not yet made an official announcement.

“He’s informed me that he’s not going to be running for Lieutenant Governor. You know, most people feel that he’ll be a great candidate for Governor, but that’s a decision he’ll make on his own timetable. And if he does, I’ll certainly be supportive,” Tilley said.

The only Democrat in the race thus far is Becky Plattner from Marshall.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

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Herman Cain campaigns in Jefferson City

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - Tea Party activists showed suppport in favor of a presidential hopeful Herman Cain on the state Capitol's front-lawn.

The former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City and radio talk show spoke to a crowd of around 200 about his agenda to lower taxes and strengthen state's individual rights.

Although Cain is not a Tea Party candidate, Tea Party activists came to show support for his platform.

"I have people asking me all the time. Do you think this Tea-Party 'thing' is going to go away? What 'thing' are you talking about? You talking about these people wanting to take back their government? No, it's not going away. It's gonna get stronger and stronger," Cain said.

Cain says he feels confident that a conservative agenda will prevail in 2012.

"And I happen to believe that we are going to succeed in taking our government back. We are going to succeeed at taking control of the Senate. We are going to succeed at putting a conservative in the White House," Cain said.

Herman Cain faces a potentially packed field of Republicans to challenge President Obama next year.

Emily Kissee, Missouri Digital News

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