Slay: McCaskill gets it; city will be prepared for election

State Auditor Claire McCaskill's impossible-to-miss blue "McCaskill for Senate" RV pulled up to the hip, if not so new, Kitchen K to press the flesh and meet with Mayor Francis Slay. After some questions outside the two worked the room encouraging lunching downtown business crowd to vote to promote McCaskill to the Senate.

"This is my favorite part," said McCaskill, adding that she much preferred talking to voters than raising money.

McCaskill was immediately asked by reporters about Republican accusations that her family has a tax shelter in Bermuda (the issue has been part of a new series of anti-McCaskill television ads, at least one of which looked re-cut to get the charge in).

McCaskill dismissed the charges as a personal attack. She said her husband owns 6% of a reinsurance company in the form of stock, and that it was included in the disclosures. She added that the stock is not paying dividends and that they would only realize income if her husband sold the stock. McCaskill suggested such companies were routine and that Anheuser-Busch and Washington University had similar companies there. She estimated the current stock value between $200,000 and $500,000.

McCaskill expressed frustration with the advertising war, she said her ads focused on policy and Senator Jim Talent's votes, not on personal issues.

“None of them call him a name…none of them question his character,” she said.

The lunch crowd looked surprised at the commotion while the waiters darted among the less-gainly reporters following the couple around trying to catch what they were saying.

Asked why he supports McCaskill in her effort to unseat the one-term Senator, Jim Talent, Slay cited their long friendship and her honesty and hard work.

"She gets it," Slay said. "She understands what working families are dealing with."

Slay said it was important to have friends of the city in Washington. The city depends on block grants for everything from infrastructure to health care and law enforcement, Many of which, he said, have been cut or are threatened with cuts.

Asked about potential problems, Slay said this election is important for the city voters should expect to be able to vote without unnecessary restrictions and problems.

“Historically I have always been concerned about disenfranchisement,” said Slay.

Slay said his staff is working with the Board of Elections, police and the prosecutors office to ensure a smooth election. He said there would be credentialed lawyers at polling places to supervise.

Despite precautions, recent history certainly is sparking diligence.

“The year 2000 was an embarrassment to the city,” said Slay, referring to a number of problems at the polls including voters being incorrectly stricken from the roles and a judges' decision to allow the polls to stay open after 7 pm to allow voters to get in to vote despite the disruptions.

“I wasn't the Mayor then,” laughingly reminded reporters.