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Gubernatorial, U.S. Senate Contenders Answer Questions At 146th Annual Missouri Press Convention In Columbia

National media took notice of the political forum hosted by the Missouri Press Convention in Columbia last week. (Photos by Kent Ford, Missouri Press Association)

Missouri candidates for governor and U.S. senator participated in forums Friday in Columbia sponsored by the Missouri Press Association (MPA).
Candidates for governor — incumbent Democrat Jay Nixon, Republican Dave Spence and Libertarian Jim Higgins — gave statements and answered questions during the first forum at the Holiday Inn Executive Center.
The forum for Senate candidates followed the gubernatorial forum. Participating were incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill, Republican Congressman Todd Akin and Libertarian Jonathan Dine.
MPA, a statewide newspaper organization based in Columbia, held its 146th annual Convention Sept. 20-22. The candidate forums in the hotel’s Expo Center were part of that meeting.
David Lieb, the Associated Press chief correspondent in Jefferson City, moderated the forums.
Candidates were questioned by Bill Miller Sr., editor and publisher of the Washington Missourian Jeff Fox, an editor at the Independence Examiner and Hilary Niles and Nassim Benchaabane, students in the University of Missouri School of Journalism.
Missouri Press Association, based in Columbia, was founded in 1867. Its membership includes virtually every newspaper in Missouri, and its missions include advocating for and promoting newspapers and assisting its members in their work.
Forums for political candidates during election years are traditional events at MPA’s conventions.
Herald Receives Awards
During the awards banquet at the noon luncheon on Saturday, Sue Curry-Jones was presented awards for two entries in the Better Newspapers contest.
An article about Ava native and Ava High School graduate Rear Admiral Hamlin Tallent, director of Naval Operations for the U.S. European Command, won second place in the Rural Life category. Also, a Civil War article about Peter Murphy received honorable mention in the Historical category of judging.
With hundreds of newspapers involved and thousands of entries submitted for the judging, these awards are not taken lightly and reflect a level of professionalism the Herald strives to achieve.