This Week's Maneater Article

Hi Everyone!

Here is an article from the Maneater (MU's student newspaper) about last week's "Pizza & Politics with Sean Spence." Doesn't it sound like we had a good time?

- sean

Sean Spence
Candidate, Missouri's 25th Legislative District
seanspence@earthlink.net
573-823-1308
www.SpenceCampaign.com


Spence meets with students
By Robby LewisFeb. 8, 2008

Photo/Nick Jewell

State Auditor spokesman Sean Spence knows how to persuade college students to talk about politics with him: free pizza.

Spence led a meeting Thursday and ordered Shakespeare’s Pizza for his supporters to eat while they discussed his campaign for state representative of the 25th district, the seat held by Rep. Judy Baker, D-Columbia.

Spence, a graduate of MU, said the 25th district affects the entire state because of MU’s position within the district.

“The seat is extremely important because it includes the University of Missouri, which is the most important economic driver of the state,” Spence said. “The university produces the technology on which the future of Missouri should be built. The university is the number one producer of professional research. If we don’t take care of the university our state’s future is pretty bleak.”

Spence said he would not run for this position had Baker not announced that she is considering a run for the Ninth Congressional District seat occupied by Rep. Kenny Hulshof, R-Mo.

“Judy Baker has provided incredible representation for this district,” Spence said. “If she were running for re-election I would do everything I could to make sure she was re-elected.”
Spence said people should vote for him because he has vast experience.

“I have a combination of government and business experience that you don’t often see,” Spence said. “I have started businesses and I’ve worked for a Fortune 500 company, I’ve worked for the Missouri state Senate, the Missouri House and I’ve worked for the state auditor. I know how to get things done.”

Spence said it is important to meet the people who are going to vote.

“I go door to door pretty much every day,” Spence said. “The other day it was pouring down rain and I was out there. When it was 10 degrees with wind chill I was out there.”

Spence said MU needs attention in three areas. He said the first area has to do with finances.

“Number one is funding,” Spence said. “This governor and legislature are shifting the burden of education costs onto students and their parents when it should be a shared responsibility of all Missouri citizens.”

He said the second area he will focus on is scientific research.

“MU’s freedom to engage in scientific research is under constant attack,” Spence said. “It’s not just not having enough money. It’s about stem cells and other areas of research where people are using the type of scientific endeavor in determining whether or not the university should get funding.”

Spence said the third area deals with legislators who don’t understand what MU does for Missouri with its esteemed research level.

“MU does a level of research that cannot be matched by any public institution in the state,” Spence said.

Spence said it is important to hear from Columbia’s young people. His campaign manager Noah Kutchin represents just that.

Kutchin, a 19-year-old student at Columbia College, said the job is a great opportunity and a huge learning experience for him.

Kutchin said though Spence doesn’t hold a governmental position, he knows things the other candidates likely do not.

“Even though he doesn’t hold an elective seat, he sees the behind-the-scene things that go on there,” Kutchin said. “He knows the way it works.”

MU graduate Josh Norberg, who is helping with the campaign, said Spence is the best fit for Columbia.

“I think he represents everything this area needs,” Norberg said. “He’s been an MU student and he knows what’s best for the university.”

Norberg said Spence’s desire to know the people he represents shows he would be a good representative.

“You can’t represent people if you don’t know them,” Norberg said. “A passion of Sean’s is to meet people. He wants to meet everyone.”

Spence said running for this position has been a dream of his.

“I have wanted to run for this district since I was 18,” Spence said. “I know a thing or two about this university. More importantly, I know about listening. And this is what this campaign is going to be about.”

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