Tour of Missouri Fate Could be Decided Tuesday by Missouri Voters

[Clay]

The battle for lieutenant governor in Missouri could decide the fate of the Tour of Missouri bicycle race. Incumbent Peter Kinder has been one of the visionaries of the race and his office oversees the race each year. His democratic competitor Sam Page has attacked the race in recent campaign ads. I am not telling anyone who to vote for, but if you enjoy the Tour of Missouri, you might consider that Peter Kinder is pro-tour and Sam Page has attacked the bicycle race.

[cale76]

Sam Page sounds like a dick.

[RichL87]

Why would he have a problem with a bicycle race? That makes no sense.

-Rich L.

[Clay]

Originally Posted by RichL87

Why would he have a problem with a bicycle race? That makes no sense.

-Rich L.

The state of Missouri is the primary sponsor of the race. The idea of the race came from a Springfield businessman who presented it to Governor Matt Blunt. Blunt assigned Lt. Governor Kinder to research the possibility of the event and the economic impact to the state. Kinder went to Georgia and watched the race and looked at how the Tour of Georgia impacted the state's economy. Kinder is the driving force behind the organization of the tour.

The first year the tour brought in $27 million to the state's economy. This year, studies showed that Missouri added an extra $30 million to the states economy due to the extra business done during the race.

The issue Page has brought up is that the state of Missouri is the primary sponsor; therefore, it's a burden to the tax payers. Studies conducted during the week of the tour shows just the opposite.

The state of Missouri invested very little in the effort to put the race on, and the increased advantages to the economy offset the costs to the state. Anyway, Page has made the Tour of Missouri a campaign issue in his effort to defeat Kinder.

[kykr13]

Originally Posted by cale76

Sam Page sounds like a dick.

That's my read on it. Can't help you though - I'm from IL.

[Dale Brigham]

...with my Donkey-crat party on this one. Kinder is the only Pacyderm-party candidate I plan on voting for, for the very reason you cite. He is truly the man behind the race. He has my vote.

Anyway, other than ceremonial duties, the best thing the Lt. Gov. of Missouri can do, in my opinion, is take on a project like the Tour of Missouri. Keeps 'em out of mischief.

Dale

[wetpaint]

There's probably also the people who complain about traffic being backed up and roads being closed off. I've heard complaints like that here where we only have a 1 day pro race.