Koster thanks Labor for its support

By TIM ROWDEN

Editor

Missouri Attorney General and former gubernatorial candidate Chris Koster paid a surprise visit to the Greater St. Louis Labor Council’s holiday business representatives luncheon to thank Labor for its support during his campaign and throughout his political career.

Koster, a longtime friend of working families was defeated in his Democratic bid for governor by the Trump tidal wave that elected Republican Eric Greitens, among others.

Labor campaigned hard for Koster, an opponent of so-called “right-to-work” who had vowed to veto such legislation should it reach his desk as governor.

Greitens has vowed to sign “right-to-work,” and it is expected to be one of the first items the Missouri Legislature takes up when it convenes it January.

“I didn’t want to let the moment go by without telling you how deeply grateful I am for the friendship and the loyalty and the support that all of you have given myself and the rest of the Democratic ticket over the last six months and the last decade,” Koster said.

“The people in this room came to the barricades like never before and the money that you gave and the doors that you knocked on and the telephone calls that you made and the offices that you opened up for all of us, it was unbelievable.

“Nobody could see the tidal wave that came in on Nov. 8,” Koster said. “Were it not for that tidal wave things would be different and Democrats would be at the helm in Jefferson City.

“But I want you to know that for the rest of my life, as long as I’m standing on two feet, the gratitude and the friendship that I feel to you, to the men and women that you represent and to the cause of collective bargaining and Organized Labor in this state will never ever, ever die and never be forgotten.”