Taxes, charter schools, community policing at heart of League of Women Voters forum

With a little less than three weeks to go before the Aug. 6 primary, the League of Women Voters of Columbia-Boone County wants an informed electorate.

So, a candidate forum was held for the three contested Boone County races: Missouri House District 44, Missouri House District 50 and Boone County Sheriff.

There also were presentations on Amendments 1 and 4 as well as Columbia Prop 1 on the ballot. Prop 1 is the 10-year renewal of Columbia's capital improvement sales tax. Roughly two-thirds of the estimated $83 million generated by the tax over the next 10 years will go toward public works projects of roads and sidewalks. The rest goes toward public safety projects and purchases by the Columbia Fire Department and Columbia Police Department. This is not a tax increase or a new tax, but a continuation of a tax that first was approved by Columbia voters in 1991. The renewal, if approved by voters, goes into effect Jan. 1, 2026, as the current 10-year tax expires Dec. 31, 2025.

The bulk of the forum, though was allowing the public to hear from the candidates. The forum was held at the Columbia Public Library, was livestreamed via Zoom and was broadcast on radio stations KFRU-AM or KOPN-FM.

Missouri House District 44

Republicans Bryce Beal, who is an assistant attorney general for Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, and Boone County businessman John Martin seek the party's nomination in August to face off against Democrat Dave Raithel.

Both candidates are supportive certain tax reductions, such as property or state income tax, which they say would be offset by increases to sales taxes. Beal provided the example of tourists having to pay more.

They also were peppered with questions about charter school funding oversight and admissions. Martin agrees there should be both private and public oversight of charter schools and should allow all students, regardless of disability. Beal had a different idea when it came to oversight, putting it back on parents to be the overseers of not just charter schools, but public schools through a so-called "Parent's Bill of Rights." He did not elaborate on what this would entail, though. Schools should accept everyone, he added.

Both feel it is OK to use taxpayer dollars to send the Missouri National Guard members to the U.S. Southern Border with Mexico, with Beal expressing it would be a control against fentanyl trafficking.

With concerns about the rise of right-wing Christian Nationalism, both were asked about how they would keep it at bay in Jefferson City.

"The separation of church and state means there can be no state-sponsored religion. It does not mean that Christian ideology cannot inform the decision of legislators any more than any other religion," Beal said. "... I think, at the end of the day, it's not the greatest thing challenging our system at the moment."

Martin conversely referenced the claim that the country was founded on Judeo-Christian values and his support for Israel.

"If Christian Nationalism is used to discriminate, that is inappropriate," he said.

Missouri House District 50

Two men are vying for the Democratic Party nomination for Missouri House District 50. They are Columbia attorney Jeff Basinger and Gregg Bush, a registered nurse who previously ran for Columbia City Council. Who ever wins in August will face off against Republican Joshua Ray Blakeman. HD 50 is held by Democrat Doug Mann, who opted not to seek reelection over ongoing mental health concerns.

The pair also were asked about charter school funding oversight and admissions. They both agree that schools should accept any and all students regardless of disability, but have slightly different ideas on public funding oversight. Bush suggested an ombudsman position, while Basinger said charter schools, if they receive public funds, should operate nearly identically to public schools, such as public reports on how the money is used and a school board. He also hopes Boone County seeks a suit against the state over the charter school law because of how he says it targeted the county. A letter from area school districts, including Columbia, that opposed the law hinted at a lawsuit.

The candidates also were asked about taxes and the cut to them seen in Jefferson City.

Unlike the Republican candidates for House District, Basinger would rather see reductions of or exemptions of certain types of sales tax, such as on food, diapers and menstrual products. Money still has to come from somewhere, so Basinger wants to go after increases for corporate and personal income tax for the greatest earners, referencing the failure of Kansas' "supply-side" strategy, which did the opposite in 2012-2013. A state cannot do more with less, Bush said. Lowering of taxes impacts services used by families and their ability to love and work sustainably and safely. The alleged surplus in Jefferson City actually is a squeeze on families and Jefferson City is hoarding that money, he said.

Both are hopeful for the passage of a reproductive rights amendment in November, once again allowing abortions in the state. Basinger said he would fight against attempts to weaken the amendment through other trigger laws or potential doctor admitting privileges requirement. There is a real hunger for reproductive freedom and justice, Bush said, which includes invitro fertilization.

Boone County Sheriff

The forum between incumbent Dwayne Carey and Charles Blair, both Democrats, was more a de-facto debate, with the men trading barbs over leadership experience, department issues and programming and their responses to the barbs. Blair previously ran against Carey in 2020 as a Republican. Blair explained his party affiliation change earlier this week. Whoever wins in August is the presumptive winner in November as there is no Republican or other party challenger.

Questions ranged on deputy vehicular pursuits, fee collection for retirement plans, issues related to opioids and fentanyl, department internal affairs and community policing.

Carey disagreed with Blair on whether funds collected from fines or tickets should go into a law enforcement retirement fund. Blair thinks departments should not benefit from writing tickets or making arrests. A state law from 1983 allowed a $3 court cost fee to go toward a sheriff retirement fund up until it was deemed unconstitutional by the Missouri supreme court in 2021.

Carey sits on the Missouri Sheriffs retirement board. So, the board now is searching for a funding source to keep that fund going since there are several dependent on that retirement fund, he said. Two bills signed in 2023 by Gov. Parson set up the Sheriff’s Retirement System, but a person elected Sheriff has to serve two four-year terms before they are vested by it and must contribute 5% toward their own pension. Those already retired could lose out on their pension under the old fund, based on Carey's statements. Some entities also participate in the state's Local Government Employees Retirement System, or LAGERS, but the Boone County Sheriff's Department is not one of them. Boone County does participate in the County Employees Retirement Fund, however.

Carey also pushed back against requiring deputies to carry Narcan, which counteracts an opioid/fentanyl overdose, in their vehicles, since Narcan has to be kept at certain temperatures. Patrol deputies can keep a vehicle at their home and Carey also is concerned about deputies who have children being able to find the drug in the deputy's home. Other first responders like Boone County Fire Protection District, which does carry Narcan, often respond faster than the sheriff's department, Carey said. Blair wants deputies to carry Narcan.

Blair also would like to establish a citizens review board akin to the one in the City of Columbia, with Carey expressing the department does have an internal affairs division to address complaints. He also has concerns about the department eliminating explorer and reserve programs as a means of community policing. Carey responded noting lack of interest in the program and their cost, but the department does provide school resource officers in smaller districts of Harrisburg and Sturgeon as a community policing aspect.

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on X, formerly Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.