Most of Joplin was still without power on the day Ron Richard was scheduled to meet with the Globe’s editorial board.
The December ice storm left few untouched, including the Missouri House representative. He had been out clearing fallen limbs from the street before he stopped by to see us, and apologized a couple of times for being “grotty” — an expression I hadn’t heard for a long time.
We asked Richard in to get his thoughts on the 2008 legislative session. You can read his responses on the opposite page. We also wanted to talk about his recent election as Speaker of the House. If the Republicans maintain the majority, Richard will take that position in 2009.
Richard, 60, is a pretty straight shooter. In September, it was suggested that Southwest Missouri now had the upper hand in the House.
A story carried in the Columbia Tribune captured Richard’s directness:
“State Rep. Ron Richard’s elevation to House speaker-in-waiting is another instance of a Southwest Missouri politician getting elevated to a prominent legislative leadership post. But the former Joplin mayor insisted dubbing him a regional political creature would be a mistake.
‘That is absolute BS,’ Richard said when asked whether his effort to succeed House Speaker Rod Jetton cemented Southwest Missouri’s dominance of Missouri politics. ‘Let me tell you something: I’ve worked with the entire state of Missouri since I’ve been elected. And anybody who wants to say that I’m regional can just leave the building.’”
We got pretty much the same response when we asked Richard if his election as Speaker would change the way he does business. Absolutely not, he told us. But, you can also tell that Richard is excited about the challenge.
I learned a few new things about Richard during his visit. For instance, he used to be a Democrat. He was quick to let us know that was back during college when it was “cooler” to be associated with the Young Democrats than the Young Republicans, who he characterized as “nerdly.” He said it was few years later that he switched to the Republican Party because he felt it was more in line with his way of thinking. But Richard, elected to his third term to the House in 2006, is known throughout the state for his bipartisan way of thinking.
His last committee disclosure report to the Missouri Ethics Commission, filed in October, showed he has a hefty $169,515 on hand in his campaign fund. A lot of his contributions come from Southwest Missouri businesses and individuals. His largest contribution — $25,000 — was received in June and came from the Southwest Missouri Leadership PAC, formerly the Nodler Leadership PAC.
To learn more about who Richard’s backers are, check out the Missouri Ethics Commission report. You can also learn more about Richard’s background by reading his bio information on his Web site at www.ronrichard.com.
Carol Stark is editor of The Joplin Globe. Address correspondence to her, c/o The Joplin Globe, P.O. Box 7, Joplin, Mo. 64802 or e-mail cstark@joplinglobe.com.
Opinion
Carol Stark: Richard known for bipartisan
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