Otto launches Senate bid

He’s been promising to run since at least the spring, and Jefferson City CPA Harry Otto launched his campaign for the state Senate on Monday night with a fund-raising dinner.

Incumbent Carl Vogel, R-Jefferson City, can’t run for re-election because of term limits.  “My goal for the next 315 days is to get recognized and known around the district,” Otto told family, friends and supporters gathered at the Eagles Club.  His qualifications include what he called “my Es” - education, experience, ethics and an endorsement.  “I’m very proud to have the endorsement of the sitting senator,” he said.

Otto, Jefferson City automobile dealer Mike Kehoe and state Reps. Mark Bruns of Wardsville, Bill Deeken of Jefferson City and Kenny Jones of Clarksburg - all Republicans - have said they want to succeed Vogel.  Official filing for the office begins Feb. 23.  So far, no Democrat has announced an intention to run for the job.

“I do expect to be outspent in this campaign,” Otto said, “but I don’t expect to be outworked.

“I don’t think this office ought to be purchased.  I think it ought to be earned.”  He said he’s not afraid of a fiveman primary race, nor is he worried that four of the five announced hopefuls are based in Cole County.

The district includes Cole, Callaway, Moniteau, Miller and Morgan counties.  “Moniteau is less than 10 percent of the district (population) and Cole is close to 50 percent of the district,” Otto said, “so you could split Cole more than four ways and it’s still larger than some other counties.  “But, to be elected you’re going to have to get votes from each and every county in the district.”  Otto told supporters his research shows no CPA ever has been elected to the Missouri Senate.  “I think it’s time to get one there,” he said.  He later said: “I’ve been doing professional accounting work for over 35 years in central Missouri (and) I’ve met a lot of people and served in a lot of community positions in the last 35 years.  “And I think that’s going to help me in this race.”

Otto did not discuss issues Monday night, saying there’s plenty of time to go into detail about his position on issues later.  But, he told the crowd, “The big issue we do face is money - it’s not coming in as fast as projected, and the expenses are probably as much as, or nearly as much as, projected.”  He later said his approach to Missouri’s not getting enough income won’t be raising taxes.  “I’m not talking about an increase,” he explained.  “I’m talking about determining where the money should go - who gets it and who waits in line for it.”  He said the state’s history of “being a little bit frugal and a little bit ‘cheap’” has been the right attitude to have, leaving the state in better financial shape than many others during the current economic crisis.

With its constitutional requirement to get at least 25 percent of the general revenue budget, Otto said education also will be a major issue.  “When we have some failing school districts that have had to be taken over by the state, and fixed for the kids who are being cheated out of a good education, it’s a very important issue,” he said.