Pettis County Democrats gathered for an ice cream social fundraiser Thursday evening and heard from two candidates seeking office for the area.
Al Skalicky, a Democrat from Bolivar seeking the vacant 28th Senatorial District seat in the Aug. 8 special election, and Renee Hoagenson, a Democrat from Columbia running against 4th District U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, in 2018, each made brief speeches for a packed house at the American Legion Post in Sedalia. Both candidates are new to state and national politics.
Hoagenson, owner of Showcase Sedalia, a Catholic and member of Rotary Club, said she wanted to spend some of her time at the microphone talking about women’s rights, as the event was hosted by the Pettis County Women’s Democratic Club. She said women’s rights was a large part of why she decided to run for public office.
“I look forward to the day when we all understand we don’t have to be afraid of someone else’s success, when people know that their own success isn’t relative to another person, that they’re not valued based on comparison,” Hoagenson said in her many references to the need for more equality in America. “I look forward to the day when men and women are regarded equally without consideration to gender, just by merit. I look forward to the day when no woman plays small, ever.”
She said it will be her goal if elected to Congress to be a “steward for women’s rights.”
On that same theme, Hoagenson noted that no one asks for hunger or poverty and that more needs to be done to help those in need, whether it be with better access to assistance, education or more job experience.
“We are the United States of America — we do not have to have hunger and we do not have to have poverty,” she said. “And we certainly do not have to blame those in poverty for their poverty.”
Voters will be choosing between Skalicky and state Rep. Sandy Crawford, R-Buffalo, in just two weeks to fill the 28th District seat vacated by now Lt. Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican. Skalicky is retired after 32 years as an agriculture teacher.
As Skalicky travels the district to campaign, he said he is hearing the same thing from citizens: they’re concerned about Missouri.
“They are concerned about education. I hear senior citizens concerned about cuts to health care, to prescription medicine, in-home health care, all those kinds of things,” he said. “I’ve talked with a lot of people not just in organized labor but just working people in general concerned about making a living wage. I’ve heard people talk about things related to predatory lending.”
When concluding his remarks, Skalicky simply reminded those in attendance to make their voice heard by voting Aug. 8.
“If we want to change those things, there’s only one way to do that. To change the discussion we have to change the voice in Jefferson City,” Skalicky said. “That’s the only way that’s going to happen. Aug. 8 is a chance to begin changing that discussion.”
