Dave Spence, Republican candidate for Missouri governor, said Monday Gov. Jay Nixon is failing to create a climate for job growth in Missouri and should be replaced.
"The main problem in Missouri," Spence said, "is a lack of leadership by Nixon, our current governor. He has been on the government payroll for 25 years. About 70 percent of Nixon's campaign contributions come from lawyers and unions. He is beholden to them and that is the crux of the problem of why Missouri is failing to develop a climate for job creation."
Spence met with Callaway County Republican leaders during a campaign luncheon Monday in Fulton. He has been traveling the state to get an early jump on his campaign for governor.
The luncheon included Rep. Jeanie Riddle, R-Mokane, and Sen. Mike Kehoe, who currently represents Callaway County in the Missouri Senate. Under a current Senate redistricting plan, Kehoe would not represent Callaway County next year. Riddle has said she intends to file for this November to the newly created Senate district that stretches from Callaway County eastward to the eastern border of Missouri.
Others attending the event at Bek's Restaurant in Fulton included Republican Committee Chairman Dean Powell and Bill Frame of Fulton, who is treasurer of Spence's statewide campaign for governor.
Spence said he is confident he knows how to create jobs in the state because he built a small Missouri company with 15 workers to 800 employees.