Hedging their bets? Joplin Progress Committee endorses five R-8 Board candidates

The Joplin Progress Committee, the group of business leaders who want the city and the school district to continue in the path it has gone in since the May 22, 2011, tornado, is now endorsing five of the eight candidates for the R-8 Board of Education.

The committee has added Linda Banwart and Jeff Koch to its list of candidates.

Last week, the committee announced it was endorsing two incumbents, Board President Jeff Flowers and Randy Steele, and Shawn McGrew. At that time, the committee had not interviewed either Mrs. Banwart or Koch.

The only candidates who did not get the committee's stamp of approval were former Irving Elementary Principal Debbie Fort, Dave Guilford, formerly a building engineer at the old South Middle School, and Shane Reed.

As noted in earlier Turner Report posts, Joplin Progress Committee has stated its intention of making contributions to candidates that meet with its approval. Three R-8 candidates, Flowers, Steele, and McGrew have already formed the campaign committees required by state ethics laws for candidates who plan to accept more than $1,000 in contributions, or more than $325 from any one source.

Koch has indicated he will not accept contributions from the committee.

2013 in Review: Joplin School Board race opens with scandal, slumber party

(From December 17, 2013)
Let history show that the most important board election in years began with a slumber party.