Brunner looks to expand economic growth as governor

John Brunner, second from right, stopped at Coffee Zone on Friday for a meet and greet with the public. Mary Ann and Tom Weaver, seated at the table with Brunner, were two of several people who wanted to hear what the Republican gubernatorial candidate had to say.
John Brunner, second from right, stopped at Coffee Zone on Friday for a meet and greet with the public. Mary Ann and Tom Weaver, seated at the table with Brunner, were two of several people who wanted to hear what the Republican gubernatorial candidate had to say.

Republican John Brunner talks a lot about helping his family's business, Vi-Jon Industries, grow in the face of increasing government regulations.

Brunner, one of four people running for the GOP nomination for governor in the Aug. 2 primary, was the third generation of Brunners to lead Vi-Jon and retired as CEO in 2009.

"I am simply an individual who wants to take my decades of experience and continue that in service to the people of Missouri," Brunner told the News Tribune after meeting for nearly a half hour Friday afternoon with about a dozen supporters at Jefferson City's Coffee Zone.

"I know a lot of folks wonder," he said, "'What is John Brunner doing, and why is he doing it? He doesn't need to do that - he doesn't need a job.'

"But nothing is more motivating than helping the lives of people across the state, as I've done it for decades in my business."

Brunner said welfare regulations need to be changed so people receiving benefits can improve their incomes without losing more in benefits than they gain in pay raises.

"There are a number of people who say, 'Let's take this system apart, and let's rebuild it,'" Brunner explained. "We have a lot of work to do here, but I think, in the bigger picture, Missouri is 47th in economic growth.

"We're at the bottom of the barrel - and (some) have almost lost a sense of any future."

The state's economy can be turned around, he said, including improving pay and benefits for state government workers.

"They are people, too - and we need to treat people decently and have a fair program," he said. "I truly believe you're going to see productivity, morale, efficiency move forward - if you have the right kind of leadership in place."

Although some of his fellow Republicans might not like those comments, Brunner said, "I've always felt that jobs are a Missouri issue."

One recent state retiree - who didn't identify himself - told Brunner he'd spent time at the Capitol this past year and called it "the most disgusting thing I've ever seen. The lobbyists were like vultures, hanging around and wanting to grab my representative!"

Brunner talked about changing the culture in the Capitol, including a ban on lawmakers becoming lobbyists immediately after leaving office.

"We do not have true ethics policies in Jefferson City," he said. "We've kicked the can down the road.

"This whole thing about the food troughs, about meals and deals, about golf trips - and it goes on and on and on - in our industry, we cleaned it up."

But, he said, it takes a leader.

"There's a lot of good resources from the lobbyists - they are experts in their field, representing their industries and (providing) a lot of good information," he said later.

"The problem I think the citizens have is the 'revolving door' in terms of the jobs and the special favors, the trips - the 'little' things that can be easily cleaned up and need to be done in order to have a more professional relationship between the lobbyists and the legislators."

Brunner said a one-year break between serving in the Legislature then becoming a lobbyist "gives a cooling-off period."

He likened it to the non-compete clauses some companies have in their contracts to prevent an employee from leaving one job and going to work immediately for a direct competitor.

Brunner told the News Tribune he expects to be able to work with lawmakers.

"I've worked with up to 1,500 people," he said. "It's all about breaking it into smaller pieces.

"There's 16 different departments. There's a lot of good legislators - I've already developed good relationships with them. But it's the old-fashioned thing of leadership."

Brunner said he would "reach across the aisle" and recognize good ideas, no matter which political party they come from.

"If you start out by trying to earn their respect and listen," he said, "it's amazing what you can accomplish."

Brunner said he still is running the kind of campaign he began with - in spite of the onslaught of negative advertising.

"It's all about jobs," he said. "It's lifting the lives of people with a good job and lifting this state up.

"As a business guy, I'm going to take best practices from all the states that are doing a good job, bring those ideas to Missouri and get us working again here in Missouri."

As the "heart of America," Brunner added, Missouri "can be the distribution hub of America. This is fixable.

"Other states are doing it - why not Missouri?"