U.S. Senate Candidate John Brunner Speaks in Maplewood

Two dozen GOP faithful showed up for a meeting Wednesday at the sponsored by the Hadley Township Republicans.

John Brunner, candidate for U.S. Senate was the main attraction, but a handful of candidates or their representative were there as well.

John Judd was representing Senator Jim Lembke, running for reelection in the 1st District. Jaci Winship was there for Dave Spence, candidate for governor. Isaac Roberts represented Sarah Steelman, running against Brunner for U.S. Senate. Becky Davidson represented Bill Randles, for governor. Robyn Hamlin, running for Congress in the 1st Congressional District, was there in person.

Carol Riess, a candidate for Republican Committeewoman for Hadley Township and Elizabeth Deal, candidate for State Rep., District 91, was there as well.

Hadley Township Committeeman Dan O’Sullivan ran the meeting. After explaining some organizational basics, he introduced Brunner, who is running in the primary against Sarah Steelman and Todd Akin. The winner will face incumbent, Dem. Sen. Claire McCaskill in November.

He said the economy has three key problems: no energy program in the U.S., so all the energy money goes out of the country; red tape regulations on businesses; and taxes need to be lowered.

Brunner said those watching the news can see it’s easy to determine who McCaskill’s favorite Republican candidate is. He said the Democrats are trying to determine who they’ll face in November.

“They’re attacking me,” he said. “Brilliant strategy on their part. If they spend the money now they don’t have to spent the big bucks in the general election.”

“When you have five different groups attacking you, we try to do the best we can,” he said. “We do correct these misleading issues, but at the end of the day you hope people see through it.”

He was asked why he is the best candidate to bring down the national debt.

“You have personal accountability as a private citizen. Every dollar I’ve ever borrowed I’ve paid back,” he said.

He said his plan is to bring that personal responsibility to elected officials by having money taken from their pensions according to the debt they voted for. They’d get it back when the debt is paid back.

He said he’s going to Kansas City, Springfield and Poplar Bluff in the last days before the election.

Brunner field director in the area, Charles Hinderliter, from Maplewood, said he’s going to events with Brunner, and, “It’s phone banking, it’s door knocking, it’s just all the grass roots stuff we’ve got to do.”

He said he’s looking forward to Wednesday of next week, when he can get some sleep.