| Peter Kinder | |
 Lt. Governor Kinder visiting the St. Louis Science Center, August 2007 |
|
|
|
|
|---|---|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 10, 2005 |
|
| Governor | Matt Blunt Jay Nixon |
| Preceded by | Joe Maxwell |
|
|
|
| Born | May 12, 1954 Cape Girardeau, Missouri |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence | Cape Girardeau |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Religion | United Methodist |
Peter D. Kinder (born May 12, 1954 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri) is an American politician from the U.S. state of Missouri. He was elected Lieutenant Governor of Missouri in 2004 as was Matt Blunt elected Governor. Kinder was reelected in 2008 at the same time Jay Nixon (D) was elected Governor. Kinder is a member of the Republican Party.
Contents |
Education and Early Career
Kinder was born and raised in Cape Girardeau, the son of pediatrician James A. Kinder Jr. and Mary Frances Hunter Kinder. He attended Cape Girardeau Public Schools and then attended Southeast Missouri State University and the University of Missouri in Columbia. He graduated from St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas in 1979 and was admitted to the Missouri Bar in 1980.
After law school Kinder served as a member of the late U.S. Representative Bill Emerson's staff in Washington, D.C. from 1980 to 1983. He returned to Missouri and worked as an attorney and real estate specialist for hotel developer Charles Drury of Drury Industries. In 1987 Kinder became associate publisher of the Southeast Missourian newspaper, where he wrote weekly columns and editorials.
Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau dedicated its Department of Pediatrics in memory to his father James A. Kinder, M.D. who died on July 1, 2000. His mother, who died on January 4, 2008, sang duets with the mother of Rush Limbaugh for 50 years; Rush Limbaugh even attended the funeral.
Kinder is a member of the United Methodist Church, Beta Theta Pi social fraternity, Missouri Farm Bureau, Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, and Lions Club. He also remains active in many civic causes, including extensive work with Southeast Missouri Port Authority, United Way, Nature Conservancy, American Cancer Society, and Boy Scouts of America.
Political career
In 1992 Kinder made his first bid for public office, winning election to a seat in the Missouri State Senate representing Cape Girardeau and surrounding counties by defeating former Missouri First Lady and gubernatorial candidate Betty C. Hearnes (D). Kinder was reelected in 1996 and 2000. Kinder considered running for State Auditor of Missouri in 1998, Attorney General in 2000, and Governor of Missouri in 2004, but ultimately passed each time. When the Republicans gained a majority in the Missouri Senate for the first time in 53 years following a round of special elections in February 2001, Kinder became President Pro Tempore, the top official in the Missouri Senate. In 2004 he sought and won election as Missouri's Lieutenant Governor, defeating Bekki Cook (D-Cape Girardeau). He became the second sitting President Pro Tempore to be elected Lieutenant Governor of Missouri.
Following Governor Matt Blunt's withdrawal from the 2008 gubernatorial race, Kinder announced that he would seek the Republican nomination for Governor. However, on February 8, 2008, Kinder withdrew from that contest in the interest of preserving party unity. He stated that he would seek a second term as Lieutenant Governor. He was reelected as Lieutenant Governor in November 2008, defeating his Democratic opponent, Sam Page. He was the only Republican to win a statewide race in Missouri during the November 4, 2008 general election.
As Lieutenant Governor, Kinder serves as the official Senior Advocate for Missouri. While in the Missouri Senate, he sponsored and passed the Elderly Protection Act of 2003, which increased the penalties for elder abuse crimes. As President Pro Tem, the Senate crafted the Missouri Senior Rx plan, providing prescription drug coverage for the poorest seniors. In 2005, Senior Rx transitioned into Missouri Rx and now enrolls over 170,000 Missouri seniors. Kinder currently chairs the Missouri Rx Plan Commission.
He also promoted the Assisted Living Bill of 2006, a top priority of multiple senior advocacy organizations. This legislation clarified the definition of "Assisted Living" and gives seniors more options and choice in the type of long-term care facility they want to call home.
As President Pro Tem, Kinder chaired an interim committee that studied subsidizing Veterans' homes and providing assistance to Missouri troops returning home from combat in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other parts of the world. In 2005, he proposed and helped to pass the Missouri Military Family Relief Fund, which benefits family members of the Missouri National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been called to active duty.
Kinder is currently coordinating the Missouri Mentor Initiative, a pilot program that encourages state employees to mentor children by receiving up to 40 hours a year in paid time off to volunteer. He also advocated for funding the Amachi Program that assists Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Missouri to mentor children whose parents are incarcerated in Missouri prisons.
As Lieutenant Governor, Kinder serves on several boards and commissions including: Tourism Commission (Chair); Missouri Development Finance Board (Chair); and the Missouri Housing Development Commission. In 1996, he was named Chairman of the Education Task Force of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a Washington, D.C.-based association of state legislators. He served on three special committees in 2005 and 2006 and co-chaired the Mental Health Task Force, providing 25 recommendations to prevent abuse and neglect in the mental health system. The Government Review Commission made numerous recommendations to reform state government and agencies. The Energy Task Force examined ways to conserve energy usage and implement a comprehensive energy strategy.
Kinder has been recognized and honored by various groups including:
- Missouri Right to Life Defender of Life
- National Rifle Association U
- University of Missouri Presidential Citation Award
- Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout
- A special award from St. Louis Children’s Hospital, SSM Cardinal Glennon Hospital, and Children’s Mercy of Kansas City for support of the State Children’s Health Program and health care programs benefiting Missouri children
- March of Dimes for Continued Commitment to Infant Healthcare
- Southeast Missouri State University Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award
- St. Louis Business Journal Legislative Award
- Support Your Troops Committee Award
- Missouri Farm Bureau Outstanding Service to Agriculture
- St. Louis Regional Commerce and Growth Association Lewis and Clark Statesman Award for Outstanding Leadership
- Missouri Restaurant Association Distinguished Service
- Associated Industries of Missouri Voice of Missouri Business
- Services for Independent Living
- Southeast Missouri Alliance for Disability Independence Elected Official Award
- SSM Cardinal Glennon Hospital Child Advocate Award for Civic Commitment
- National Federation of Independent Businesses Guardian of Small Business
- Missouri State Medical Association for dedication to improving health care
- Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry Spirit of Enterprise
Electoral history
| 2008 Election for Lieutenant Governor of Missouri | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Republican | Peter Kinder | 1,403,706 | 49.88 | +0.93 | |
| Democratic | Sam Page | 1,331,177 | 47.31 | -1.12 | |
| Libertarian | Teddy Fleck | 49,862 | 1.77 | -0.25 | |
| Constitution | James C. Rensing | 29,153 | 1.04 | +0.44 | |
| 2004 Election for Lieutenant Governor of Missouri | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Republican | Peter Kinder | 1,300,109 | 48.95 | ||
| Democratic | Bekki Cook | 1,286,295 | 48.43 | ||
| Libertarian | Mike Ferguson | 53,770 | 2.02 | ||
| Constitution | Bruce Hillis | 15,935 | 0.60 | ||
| 2000 Election for Missouri’s 27th Senatorial District Seat | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Republican | Peter Kinder | 49,442 | 100.00 | +36.27 | |
| 1996 Election for Missouri’s 27th Senatorial District Seat | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Republican | Peter Kinder | 40,412 | 63.73 | ||
| Democratic | Rick Althaus | 22,999 | 36.27 | ||
External links
- Peter Kinder the Lieutenant Governor of Missouri official state site
- Team Kinder-The Official Campaign Website
- Follow the Money - Peter Kinder 2004 campaign contributions
- Project Vote Smart - Lt. Governor Peter D. Kinder (MO) profile
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Joe Maxwell |
Lieutenant Governor of Missouri 2005– |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
