Show-Me State Times

Jason Hall, CEO of Greater St. Louis, Inc., recently explained GSL’s support for Mike Kehoe in an opinion column published in the St. Louis Business Journal. Please take a moment to read why GSL is supporting this candidate, and please make sure to vote this Aug. 6 and in this November’s general election.

Greater St. Louis Inc. makes pick for Missouri's next governor

By Jason Hall, CEO of Greater St. Louis, Inc.

If Missouri’s economy is a car, then the St. Louis metro area is its engine. The Missouri counties of the St. Louis metro generate more than 44% of all goods and services produced in Missouri. Quite simply, as goes St. Louis, so too goes Missouri.

After decades of population loss and economic stagnation, business and civic leaders in St. Louis have joined together to champion economic growth. We are undertaking this vital work as Greater St. Louis Inc., a civic organization that unites business leaders from throughout the 15 counties of the metro area. We speak with a unified voice and drive a bold agenda to help St. Louis, and Missouri, grow. Encouragingly, the most recent federal data identifies the St. Louis metro as the 16th fastest-growing economy in the United States. We need to make that data point a new trend.

For our work to be successful, we must have strong partnerships with elected officials who agree that growth is the top priority. On Aug. 6, Missourians will vote in a primary election for key state and federal offices. Because of the current political environment in Missouri, several of these primary races almost certainly will decide the outcome of the general election.

In our first four years as an organization, Greater St. Louis Inc. has not formally endorsed a candidate for office. For most business groups, the conventional wisdom is to stay out of primary elections altogether; however when the stakes are this high and differences between candidates this clear, the conventional approach will not cut it.

Given the impact that Aug 6 primaries will have on Missouri's trajectory including that of St.Louis , Greater st.Louis inc is making two endorsements .The first one being for Governor.To be clear,the outcome would impact growth across both regions significantly .These endorsements do not reflect views from every member company or institution but rather opinion held by leadership within greater st.louis inc .

In an extraordinarily important primary contest for Missouri governor ,we're putting stake ground supporting candidate who understands critical importance economic growth both regions .That candidate Mike Kehoe .

We are not taking stand every issue expressed by kehoe but focusing exclusively upon economics wherein he made it clear creating jobs ,helping businesses industries grow making communities stronger among top priorities .

Kehoe understands infrastructure public safety downtown revitalization crucial growing st louis missouri major projects like transformation lambert international airport construction brickline greenway vital future state funding necessary success

State resources could also help support law enforcement regional elected officials reduce unacceptably high homicide rate downtown investment critical tackle long-vacant buildings enhance public safety tackle issues around homelessness

These issues aren't partisan nor should they be Growth should bring people together across party lines get things done believe kehoe understanding drive ability pragmatic pro-growth leader can put st louis missouri right track confident strong partnership matters truly matter

This make-it-or-break-it decade greater st.louis inc work leaders any party community strengthen economy metro area missouri illinois urge members business community general public elect candidates prioritize growth reason encourage primary voters support mike kehoe governor aug 6