By Antonio D. French
Filed Monday, November 13, 2006 at 4:48 PM
PUB DEF EXCLUSIVE Labels: Black_Caucus, Exclusive
State Rep. John Bowman told PUB DEF today that under his leadership the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus (MLBC) will continue on the road to becoming an influential player in the State Capitol, despite several members leaving the organization and forming a new caucus last week.
He disputed reports that there are now more African-American House members in the newly formed spin-off organization than are left in the MLBC. "That's inaccurate," said Bowman.
PUB DEF was the first to report last week that what was expected to be a normal fight for caucus chairmanship between Bowman and State Rep. Rodney Hubbard ended in several House members accusing Bowman of cheating and using strong-arm tactics to silence his colleagues.
Within hours of Thursday's meeting, a new organization called the Urban Progressive Caucus (UPC) was being formed, with at least nine state representatives defecting from the MLBC.
Bowman said the state's three African-American senators (Maida Coleman, Rita Days and Yvonne Wilson) are still in the MLBC, as are the caucus' "most effective legislators".
Bowman said those state reps that are criticizing his leadership "never came to meetings" and "never put any work in" to build the organization.
Bowman said he did what he had to do to prevent the caucus from being led by those focused on a single issue -- school vouchers. Hubbard and his close ally, State Rep. Ted Hoskins, have been vocal supporters of a form of vouchers (or "school choice"). Both are now members of the new UPC.
But State Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, also a defecting black caucus member, has been a vocal critic of vouchers, even helping to oust Hoskins from the chairmanship back in April in large part over his strong support of the issue.
In the past, she and Hubbard have been seen as bitter political enemies. But last week the two put their differences aside.
"For Rodney and I to come together would not have happened unless for these extraordinary conditions," Nadal told PUB DEF.
"This has nothing to do with school vouchers. It has everything to do with [Bowman's] failed leadership and ego," she said.
When asked how Nadal's involvement fits into his description of a single-issue agenda causing this fight, Bowman said, "I can't explain what Maria does from minute-to-minute."
"I refuse to even try to understand her anymore," said Bowman.
Nadal points to herself and at least five other members of the new caucus that are anti-vouchers -- State Reps. Jamilah Nasheed (St. Louis City), Connie Johnson (St. Louis City), Martin Rucker (St. Joseph), Michael Brown (Kansas City), and Leonard Hughes (Kansas City).
Hughes agreed that what happened had nothing to do with vouchers.
"It's about a breath of fresh air in the new millennium," said Hughes.
"I don't think John Bowman is a bad leader. I just think it was a bad situation for everybody."
8 Comments:
Well, well, well...this nuclear explosion and its subsequent defragmentation of the original black caucus makes for an interesting 2008 election cycle, especially with the 5th Senate district becoming open as Sen. Coleman is term limited.
11/13/2006 9:29 PM
This is a damn shame. Can we get ourselves together? Poor, poor leadership. This is very fustrating...
11/14/2006 10:24 AM
Ego – check point
Rep. Bowman dosen’t just talk about the work that the black caucus sould be doing. He is out their maken it happen!
John Bowman drafted the Minimum Wage legislation that turned in to the propositon We voted on last week. He also lined up the effort that not only got it on the ballot but got people out to the pols to vote.
He also put the pices together for the America Coming Together of 2004 that registerd over 100,000 missourians to vote and reminded them to vote. Not to mentiond that was working full force even when Kerry pulled out. Also he ran the very similar GOTV operation program for McCaskill in the city and North County this year.
That is Leadership that wins
Who ever the leader of the Urban Progressive Caucus is they need a lot of hassle to match what John Bowman brings to the table.
11/14/2006 11:28 AM
sorry that wus hussle not hassle...
11/14/2006 11:30 AM
The state elected officials need to put their petty differences aside and remember that they are there for the people that put them there not for their petty ego's. Its not enough that we got nothing from the State elected officials. But for them to show dissension when there's not enough of them to pass anything just re-inforced the more productine white elected officials to continue to laugh and joke with the sad individuals we elected in Jefferson City.....all of you need to step down. Thank God for term limits!
11/14/2006 1:54 PM
Bowman check your ego at the steps in Jeff City. You didn't single handedly do America Coming Together, stop kidding your self. Give credit where credit is due.Credit your self for this defragmentation.
11/14/2006 9:57 PM
Hate Hate Hate... what has Hubbard, Nadal, or Hoskins done to build their party?
What have they done to encorage people to vote?
WHAT LEADERSHIP DO THEY HAVE?
11/15/2006 8:53 PM
I don't know about Nadal, but I know that Hubbard and Hoskins had the courage to stand up for the children instead of just going with the status quo. Politicians focus on parties. The general public cares about real issues that affect real people.
11/16/2006 9:50 PM
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