HALLSVILLE - State Sen. Chuck Graham and Republican challenger Kurt Schaefer clashed at a candidates forum last night, continuing their sparring match from another forum last week at the University of Missouri.

Graham	Schaefer

Speaking at the forum sponsored by the Hallsville Chamber of Commerce, Schaefer criticized Graham for his 2007 arrest for driving while intoxicated, a charge Graham eventually admitted with a guilty plea. "That’s not the actions a state senator should engage in," he said. "I’m running because we can do better."

Schaefer also criticized Graham for voting against limiting lawsuit payouts, charged that Graham supported numerous tax increases in 12 years in the General Assembly and slammed Graham for passing few bills in his first term as a senator.

Graham ignored Schaefer’s criticisms. There are "a lot of positive things going on in Boone County," the senator said. "And we’ve got a lot of positive things going on in Hallsville."

Graham also discussed a push to get the city of Renick a tornado siren with the help of several private-sector sources.

"The things that result in economic development are things like taking care of the Bob LeMone Community Center that you have," Graham said, adding that he "secured $250,000 in State Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credits" to finish the building. "That building is going to pay great dividends, and it’s a great community asset."

Schaefer also tried to show his common ground with the audience. "Driving up here from Columbia on Route B, some of those businesses there on Route B are businesses that I have worked with at private practice," he told them.

Schaefer’s speech yesterday laid out his background as an assistant attorney general in Attorney General Jay Nixon’s office and as deputy director and general counsel for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Schaefer also talked about representing various health-care and business interests as a lawyer for Lathrop & Gage.

Graham resumed earlier criticism of Schaefer for a proposed incentive package for Bombardier Inc., which he said was an example of people getting "razzle-dazzled down in Jefferson City by massive projects." He noted that Lathrop & Gage had worked on the Bombardier plan.

It’s the second time Graham has tried to link Schaefer to the deal. Graham claimed at the MU forum that Gov. Matt Blunt’s sister, Amy Blunt, had put together the package that failed to lure the airplane manufacturer to the Kansas City area. Schaefer called that charge "absolutely absurd."

Schaefer also repeated criticism of Graham for filibustering a plan that uses sold loans from Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority for capital improvement projects on college campuses.

Libertarian candidate Christopher Dwyer, a Hallsville resident, also spoke at the event. He told the crowd he was an "average person" without a stellar political résumé who wanted to do away with the state income tax and make government "do better for its people."

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