Letter to the Editor

To the editor:

Once again our legislators have disguised a “mother and apple pie” ballot measure to deceive voters with their real intent, which is to pave the way for a city and county merger.

Four measures on the ballot as “Clean Missouri” Nov. 6 are in line with wholesome good American government values:

1. Limit campaign contributions for state legislative candidates.

2. Eliminate almost all lobbyist gifts in the General Assembly.

3. Require that legislative records be open to the public.

4.Require politicians to wait two years before becoming lobbyists.

However, beware there is a fifth measure which proposes to redraw district maps, whereby dividing communities of interest.

The dictionary describes gerrymandering as “the manipulation of boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class.”

This redistricting will be the prelude of setting up the ominous city/county merger vote.

Vote no for “Clean Missouri,” as it is merely a way to achieve a city/county merger by manipulating the boundaries of an electoral constituency.

If legislators are really concerned about a “Clean Missouri,” put those four measures back on the ballot without the redistricting initiative and we will pass it. But in its current form, vote no.

Frank J. Longo
Crestwood

Editor’s note: After Mr. Longo wrote this letter, a judge threw the Clean Misosuri initiatve off the ballot due to the redistricting clause, a decision that is being appealed and was stayed by another judge. As of the time of publication of this letter, the ballot measure was still on the ballot.