Mike Revis best candidate for working families in Missouri’s 97th House District

The choice was crystal clear after the Sept. 14 candidate forum

By SHERI GASSAWAY

Correspondent

Arnold, MO – If there was any doubt as to which candidate in the 97^th House District would best represent the area’s working families, all you had to do is listen to the first 10 minutes of the Sept. 14 candidate forum between current Representative Mike Revis (D-Fenton) and his Republican opponent Mary Elizabeth Coleman.

Straight out of the box, Coleman soured the tone of the event, by talking about her support of ‘right-to-work’ (RTW), and how “we” (Republicans) lost the special election that swept Revis into office and must take back the seat to retain the super-majority.

“I support RTW,” Coleman said. “I voted YES on Prop A.”

Not too bright of an idea considering the room was packed with Democrats and union members.

The forum was sponsored by the Metro St. Louis League of Women Voters.

FROM A UNION FAMILY

Revis, who flipped the deep red 97^th District blue in a special election in February, humbly thanked the constituents in the room for allowing him to represent them and gave a heartfelt tribute as to why he is running for the seat, holding up a photo of his grandfather and three uncles, all of whom were union carpenters.

“The No. 1 issue facing not only this district, but the entire state, is the continued attack on working families,” Revis said. “Thankfully, we shot down ‘right-to-work’ in August, but there’s going to be other attacks on the Labor community in the near future, and it will affect every working person in this room.”

Coleman said the most important issues facing district residents were eminent domain and flooding.

CLEAN MISSOURI, MINIMUM WAGE INITIATIVES

Revis clearly communicated his support for Amendment 1 (CLEAN Missouri), which would clean up Missouri politics, and Prop B, which would raise the state’s minimum wage to $12 by 2023.

Coleman referred to Prop B as being put on the ballot to try to “appeal to the Democratic base” and to Amendment 1 as a “partisan fight” about redistricting.

Regarding Prop B, Revis said: “A rising tide lifts all boats. You’ve got people working 40 hours a week and working second and third jobs to be able to provide for their families…. It will give people more money to spend, which will be put back into the local economy.”

Amendment 1 would lower campaign contribution limits and eliminate most all lobbyist gifts. It would also require legislators to wait two years before becoming lobbyists and call for fair legislative district maps.

“With CLEAN Missouri, we’re able to clean out some of the mess in Jeff City and make sure our legislators are truly doing it to represent their communities,” Revis said.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

 For more information or to contribute to Revis’ campaign, visit revisformissouri.com.