Missouri Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Kehoe makes campaign stop in Joplin

Missouri Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Kehoe made a campaign stop in Joplin on Friday, October 4th to discuss his vision for the show-me-state’s future. During his remarks, Kehoe voiced the need for Republican unity, and offered further support for Missouri’s sports betting amendment.

“Personally, I’m not a sports wagering person, but our surrounding states have it and we have Missourians now going into other states in order to, well, that’s what they want to do.” Kehoe told Newstalk KZRG, “We are missing the revenue stream off of that and the other states are getting it…I believe Amendment 2 would be fine. There is a constitutional dedication to education in there where politicians could never mess with it.”

Critics of Missouri’s sports wagering amendment argue the generated revenue that is directed to schools could result in the state taking other funding away from education and rely too heavily on sports gambling tax revenue. But Kehoe told Newstalk KZRG he isn’t too worried about that.

“I think you should look at historically the last several years, even in tough budget years, the general assembly has very much funded the education formula. I believe that the lawmakers you put in there you have to hold accountable. I think they’re looking for a way to plus up the schools.” Kehoe told Newstalk KZRG.

Many local leaders were in attendance for Kehoe’s stop in Joplin including Missouri Republican Chairman Nick Myers, former Joplin Mayor Doug Lawson, Webb City Mayor Lynn Ragsdale, and Missouri State Representatives Cody Smith, Lane Roberts, and Dirk Deaton.