Peter Kinder

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Peter Kinder
Lt. Governor Kinder visiting the St. Louis Science Center, August 2007
46th Lieutenant Governor of Missouri
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 10, 2005
Governor Matt Blunt (2005-2009)
Jay Nixon (2009-present)
Preceded by Joe Maxwell
Personal details
Born (1954-05-12) May 12, 1954 (age 57)
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Political party Republican
Residence Cape Girardeau
Profession Attorney
Religion United Methodist

Peter D. Kinder (born May 12, 1954 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri) is an American politician from the U.S. state of Missouri.[1] He was elected Lieutenant Governor of Missouri in 2004 as Matt Blunt was elected Governor.[2] Kinder was reelected in 2008 at the same time Jay Nixon was elected Governor.[2] Kinder was the only Republican to win statewide in Missouri in 2008, all others Republicans suffered defeat statewide (Source). Kinder is a member of the Republican Party.[2] He was considered the front runner in the 2012 Republican gubernatorial primary, but instead decided to run for re-election as Lt. Governor after St. Louis businessman and multimillionaire Dave Spence unexpectedly declared to run for Governor and pledged to put much of his own money into the race (Source).

Contents

[edit] Education and early career

Kinder was born and raised in Cape Girardeau, the son of pediatrician James A. Kinder Jr. and Mary Frances Hunter Kinder. He attended Cape Girardeau Public Schools and then attended Southeast Missouri State University and the University of Missouri in Columbia.[2] He graduated from St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas in 1979 and was admitted to the Missouri Bar in 1980.[2]

In 1972, fresh out of high school, Kinder worked for former U.S. Sen. Jack Danforth's re-election bid for Missouri attorney general. After graduating from law school at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas, Kinder managed Bill Emerson's successful campaign for a Missouri seat in the U.S. Congress. It was the first time a Republican won in southeast Missouri for U.S. Congress since 1928.

After law school Kinder served as a member of the late U.S. Representative Bill Emerson's staff in Washington, D.C. from 1980 to 1983.[2] He returned to Missouri and worked as an attorney and real estate specialist for hotel developer Charles Drury of Drury Industries.[2] In 1987 Kinder became associate publisher of the Southeast Missourian newspaper, where he wrote weekly columns and editorials.[2]

Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau dedicated its Department of Pediatrics in memory to his father James A. Kinder, M.D. who died on July 1, 2000. His mother, who died on January 4, 2008, sang duets with the mother of Rush Limbaugh for 50 years; Rush Limbaugh even attended the funeral.

Kinder is a member of the United Methodist Church, Beta Theta Pi social fraternity, Missouri Farm Bureau, Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, and Lions Club.[2] He also remains active in many civic causes, including extensive work with Southeast Missouri Port Authority, United Way, Nature Conservancy, American Cancer Society, and Boy Scouts of America.[2]

[edit] Political career

In 1992 Kinder made his first bid for public office, winning election to a seat in the Missouri State Senate representing Cape Girardeau and surrounding counties by defeating former Missouri First Lady and gubernatorial candidate Betty C. Hearnes (D). Kinder was reelected in 1996 and 2000.[2] When the Republicans gained a majority in the Missouri Senate for the first time in 53 years, following a round of special elections in February 2001, Kinder became President Pro Tempore, the top official in the Missouri Senate. In 2004 he sought and won election as Missouri's Lieutenant Governor, defeating Bekki Cook (D-Cape Girardeau). He became the second sitting President Pro Tempore to be elected Lieutenant Governor of Missouri.[2]

Following Governor Matt Blunt's withdrawal from the 2008 gubernatorial race, Kinder announced that he would seek the Republican nomination for Governor. However, on February 8, 2008, Kinder withdrew from that contest in the interest of preserving party unity. He stated that he would seek a second four-year term as Lieutenant Governor. He was reelected as Lieutenant Governor in November 2008, carrying 102 of Missouri's 114 counties. He was the only Republican to win a statewide race in Missouri during the November 4, 2008 general election. The eventual Republican nominee for governor, Congressman Kenny Hulsof, was defeated by Democrat Jay Nixon 58–39 percent.

As lieutenant governor, Kinder has championed issues affecting Missouri's seniors and veterans. He also is leading a lawsuit by Missouri citizens against the nation's healthcare law. On August 4, 2010, by a nearly 3-to-1 margin, Missouri voters passed Proposition C, rejecting the federal law's mandate to purchase health insurance. Kinder's lawsuit seeks to have the individual mandate declared unconstitutional. [2] As President Pro Tem, the Senate crafted the Missouri Senior Rx plan, providing prescription drug coverage for the poorest seniors.[2] In 2005, Senior Rx transitioned into Missouri Rx and now enrolls over 170,000 Missouri seniors. Kinder currently chairs the Missouri Rx Plan Commission.[2]

He also promoted the Assisted Living Bill of 2006, a top priority of multiple senior advocacy organizations.[2] This legislation clarified the definition of "Assisted Living" and gives seniors more options and choice in the type of long-term care facility they want to call home.[2]

As President Pro Tem, Kinder chaired an interim committee that studied subsidizing Veterans' homes and providing assistance to Missouri troops returning home from combat in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other parts of the world.[2] In 2005, he proposed and helped to pass the Missouri Military Family Relief Fund, which benefits family members of the Missouri National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been called to active duty.[2]

Kinder is currently coordinating the Missouri Mentor Initiative, a pilot program that encourages state employees to mentor children by receiving up to 40 hours a year in paid time off to volunteer.[2] He also advocated for funding the Amachi Program that assists Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Missouri to mentor children whose parents are incarcerated in Missouri prisons.[2]

As Lieutenant Governor, Kinder serves on several boards and commissions including: Tourism Commission (Chair); Missouri Development Finance Board (Chair); and the Missouri Housing Development Commission. In 1996, he was named Chairman of the Education Task Force of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a Washington, D.C.-based association of state legislators. He served on three special committees in 2005 and 2006 and co-chaired the Mental Health Task Force, providing 25 recommendations to prevent abuse and neglect in the mental health system.[2] The Government Review Commission made numerous recommendations to reform state government and agencies. The Energy Task Force examined ways to conserve energy usage and implement a comprehensive energy strategy.[2]

Kinder has been recognized and honored by various groups.[3][citation needed]

[edit] Controversy

[edit] Alleged Relationship with a Stripper

In August 2011, the St. Louis Riverfront Times published an article where Tammy Chapman, a former exotic dancer and 1992 Penthouse Pet, claimed she met Peter Kinder sometime around 1994,[4] but the two did not speak again until the summer of 2011.[4] The Riverfront Times article quoted Chapman as saying that Kinder invited her to move into his condominium apartment in suburban St. Louis. Kinder denied that claim and said he never made any such offer to Chapman.[5] The Riverfront Times article also published a photo of Kinder with Chapman during a chance encounter in 2011.[6] However, Chapman's story about the photo and Kinder contained inconsistencies.

Chapman initially told the Riverfront Times and several other media outlets that she took the photo and emailed it to Kinder.[7] But Chapman told the Kansas City Star that Kinder took the photo on his camera and circulated it.[citation needed] Kinder said Chapman approached him at a restaurant in 2011 to take the photo and he had not spoken with her since and did not see the picture until it was published in the Riverfront Times.[5] Kinder denied allegations of impropriety and said Chapman's story was part of a "partisan smear" to derail his campaign for Governor.[5] Kinder further said that Democrats tried to use similar tactics against him in his 2008 campaign for Lt. Governor.[5]

[edit] Hotel Stays in St. Louis

In April 2011, the St. Louis Post Dispatch published a story exposing Kinder for charging the taxpayers for multiple stays at luxury hotels in St. Louis. Kinder (who has a home in Cape Girardeau and an office in Jefferson City) charged the taxpayers over $35,000 for at least 329 nights at hotels in St. Louis and St. Louis County since 2006.[8]

The article stated that, "Kinder's taxpayer-funded hotel stays dwarf his predecessor's, and they are far above those of other statewide elected officials." Kinder also came under fire from critics for not listing an official reason on his expense reports for billing taxpayers for nights at the Chase or Four Seasons.[8]

In response to the story,[9] Kinder paid back taxpayers $52,320 to cover hotel stays from over six years in office "to resolve any and all outstanding questions," although Kinder denied state funds were inappropriately used.[citation needed]

[edit] Electoral history

2008 Election for Lieutenant Governor of Missouri
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Peter Kinder 1,403,706 49.88 +0.93
Democratic Sam Page 1,331,177 47.31 -1.12
Libertarian Teddy Fleck 49,862 1.77 -0.25
Constitution James C. Rensing 29,153 1.04 +0.44
2004 Election for Lieutenant Governor of Missouri
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Peter Kinder 1,300,109 48.95
Democratic Bekki Cook 1,286,295 48.43
Libertarian Mike Ferguson 53,770 2.02
Constitution Bruce Hillis 15,935 0.60
2000 Election for Missouri’s 27th Senatorial District Seat
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Peter Kinder 49,442 100.00 +36.27
1996 Election for Missouri’s 27th Senatorial District Seat
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Peter Kinder 40,412 63.73
Democratic Rick Althaus 22,999 36.27
1992 Election for Missouri’s 27th Senatorial District Seat
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Peter Kinder 37,047 55.41
Democratic Betty Hearnes 29,817 44.59

[edit] See also

Missouri gubernatorial election, 2012

[edit] References

  1. ^ "History of the Office of Lieutenant Governor". State of Missouri Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder. http://www.ltgov.mo.gov/history.htm. Retrieved August 19, 2011. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "Biography of Peter Kinder". Office of the Lieutenant Governor. http://www.ltgov.mo.gov/bio.htm. Retrieved August 19, 2011. 
  3. ^ "Distinguished Eagle Scouts". Scouting.org. http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/02-529.pdf. Retrieved November 4, 2010. 
  4. ^ a b Fenske, Sarah (August 11, 2011). "Former Penthouse Pet/Ex-Stripper Says Lt. Governor Peter Kinder Was 'One of My Best Customers'". Riverfront Times. http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2011-08-11/news/former-penthouse-pet-and-stripper-says-missouri-lieutenant-governor-peter-kinder-was-one-of-her-best-customers. Retrieved May 2, 2012. 
  5. ^ a b c d Wagman, Jake (August 18, 2011). "Peter Kinder explains 'romantic attraction' at a strip club". St. Louis Post Dispatch. http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_d9dc0f3d-0d37-5a22-84c0-74456e432a84.html. Retrieved May 2, 2012. 
  6. ^ "Kinder Says Womans Story About...". Kansas City Star. August 11, 2011. http://www.kansascity.com/2011/08/11/3071498/kinder-says-womans-story-about.html. [dead link]
  7. ^ Fenske, Sarah (August 9, 2011). "Penthouse Pet Dishes on Peter Kinder: 'He Was One of My Best Customers'". Riverfront Times. http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2011/08/peter_kinder_penthouse_pet_scandalet.php?page=3. Retrieved May 2, 2012. 
  8. ^ a b Wagman, Jake (April 3, 2011). "Kinder spends time in St. Louis, courtesy of taxpayers". Stltoday.com. http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_512538ba-80de-5ea4-9d1d-9b7cd926eacb.html. Retrieved April 10, 2012. 
  9. ^ "Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder pays back more expenses after state audit". Missourian. July 6, 2011. http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2011/07/06/lt-gov-peter-kinder-pays-back-more-expenses-after-state-audit/. Retrieved May 2, 2012. 

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