The Obama campaign estimates there may be as many as 200,000 new voters in Missouri who go to the polls on Nov. 4. It is fair to say the large majority of them will have little understanding of the office of state treasurer and little knowledge of the Democratic candidate for the office, Clint Zweifel (or of his opponent, Republican Brad Lager).
The importance of the office n state government’s chief financial officer n should be evident from state Treasurer Sarah Steelman’s recent spirited run for the Republican nomination for governor. (She was beat by U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof, who faces Attorney General Jeremiah “Jay” Nixon on the Democratic ticket on Nov. 4.)
State treasurer is one of only six statewide elected positions. The state treasurer can serve for only two four-year terms, which makes the office one of the key launching pads for the state’s top job of governor.
Zweifel says he isn’t looking any further ahead than Nov. 4, when he faces Lager. But one Democratic Party official told the American that Zweifel is one of the party’s shrewdest strategists and will have “a seat at the table,” whether or not he wins.
Zweifel chaired the House Democratic Campaign Committee in 2006, leading candidate recruitment and fundraising efforts in campaigns that resulted in the largest Democratic net gain in the state House since 1978.
An internal campaign poll conducted in early September has Zweifel leading Lager, 32 percent to 22 percent n but with nearly a majority of voters (46 percent) undecided. Since neither campaign has begun to spend on their all-important television message campaigns, Zweifel admitted that polls at this point don’t indicate much.
A state representative from North County (78th District) who is finishing his third term in the Legislature, Zweifel can claim something that not many state reps in Missouri can claim: he has actually won a meaningful general election before.
In most House districts in Missouri, partisan districting ensures that the primary is the only meaningful election. But with Hazelwood being a significant Republican outpost, Zweifel faced a Republican incumbent, Mike Reid, when he first ran for the House in 2002 n and he won by all of 67 votes.
Zweifel credited that victory to outworking his opponent. “I knocked on 14,000 doors,” he said.
Zweifel’s reputation in Jefferson City has been that of a hard worker and a straight shooter. In a Democratic caucus that is often contentious and easily divided by race and gender, Zweifel is one of the few state reps whose name stays out of the trash talk and rumor mill.
This year Zweifel was recognized by the Missouri Progressive Vote Coalition with its Outstanding Legislator Award “for his leadership on fiscal policy and for standing up for working families.” Zweifel has received a 100 percent rating on Pro-Vote’s annual Legislative Scorecard every year he has been in office.
Zweifel has an MBA in finance and serves as the ranking member on the Ways and Means Committee, the Joint Committee on Tax Policy and the Special Committee on Tax Reform.
He has taken his work ethic into his campaign for state treasurer, which (he admits) has thus far been largely a telemarketing campaign, raising money for television ads. According to amended campaign committee reports, Zweifel’s campaign had $281,545 cash on hand at the time of the July filing and Lager’s campaign had $336,154. Importantly, Lager had no primary opponent so did not need to spend any money on the August primary, which nearly depleted Zweifel’s funds.
Zweifel’s impressive work ethic comes as no surprise, based on his labor background. Before running for state treasurer, he was research and education director for Teamsters Local 688. The Teamsters union is well known in black St. Louis as one of the most progressive and inclusive unions, stemming from the pioneering leadership of Harold J. Gibbons.
“The Teamsters had black executive board membership before some other unions in this area had black members,” Zweifel said.
Zweifel also proudly points out that his post at the Teamsters union was previously held by Ernest Calloway, a legend of African-American politics.
Calloway was attracted to the St. Louis Teamsters local in 1950, in part, because of Gibbons’ vision of unions providing health care benefits for their members. Though the state treasurer’s office does not have a statutory role in forming health care policy, Zweifel is passionate on this theme. He points out that his opponent, Lager, was House budget chair in 2005 when Republicans instituted sweeping health care cuts.
Zweifel also speaks passionately about two things important to black St. Louis: urban development and minority inclusion.
“I want to attract dynamic people to the office who represent the entire state and guide capital investment in urban areas,” Zweifel said.
“And you can’t do that without an office that represents the diversity of the state.”
Brandon Davis, a regional political director for the Service Employees International Union and one of Missouri’s most respected political strategists, is one of many strong black supporters of Zweifel.
“Clint will be wise with the state’s finances, and through his work with the Teamsters we see his experience and track record of looking out for the best interest of working people,” Davis said.
“In the African-American community we all know the value of higher education, and I’m most proud that Clint’s education funding plan will ensure that working families can afford to send their children and grandchildren to college.”
A fundraiser for Zweifel will be held 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15 at the Halo Bar, 6161 Delmar Blvd. Call 314-645-0555 or email Lori@clintfortreasurer.com.
