State Representative Margaret Donnelly is receiving support from some pretty well-known women in her fight for the Democratic nomination for Attorney General.

ST. LOUIS – The Donnelly Campaign today announced the endorsement of several prominent women in the Missouri Democratic Party. Former State Treasurer Nancy Farmer, Former Secretary of State Bekki Cook, Former Democratic Party State Chair May Scheve and Former St. Louis City Prosecuting Attorney Dee Joyce Hayes jointly declared their support of Donnelly for Attorney General.

“Margaret has had an incredible and distinguished career as a lawyer and public servant,” said Bekki Cook. “She is the most qualified and best prepared to be the ‘People’s Lawyer’.”

“Margaret will make a great Attorney General and is in the best position to win,” added Nancy Farmer. Farmer won the 2000 Democratic primary for state treasurer in a three way race and went on to win the general election.

“Margaret Donnelly and her over 20 years of experience in family law dealing with tough and gut wrenching juvenile cases have prepared her to be the state’s lawyer,” said Dee Joyce Hayes. “Margaret is a tough no nonsense lawyer who is ready to step in to the job of Attorney General on day one.”

“Nancy Farmer, Bekki Cook, May Scheve and Dee Joyce Hayes are some of the most influential women in the Democratic Party. Their knowledge and ability to win races across the state down to the local level will be an instrumental part in ensuring my victory in both the primary and general election,” commented Donnelly.

So far, the only announced certain candidates for Attorney General are Democrats. State Rep. Jeff Harris and new Democrat State Senator Chris Koster* are the other two. On the Republican side, U.S. Attorney and former Speaker of the Missouri House Catherine Hanaway is expected to run, as may Senate Pro Tem Michael Gibbons.

*Client of A D French & Associates (website design)

Democratic Attorney General candidate Jeff Harris announced the support of another labor union today. Here’s the press release:

Columbia — House Democratic Leader and Democratic candidate for Attorney General Jeff Harris continues to gain support with organized labor picking up the endorsement of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 148.

Don Giljum, Business Manager for Local 148, said today that, “Jeff Harris is our choice for Attorney General because he has been there on the issues important to labor and the working families of this state. In the legislature, Jeff has consistently stood up in opposition to the Republican majority, fighting for health care, education access and funding, and for an increase in the minimum wage. Working families in Missouri will be well-served by Jeff Harris as Attorney General.”

“It has been my privilege to stand with organized labor on behalf of the working men and women of this state,” Harris said. “I am proud to have the members of Operating Engineers Local 148 standing with me and supporting my candidacy for Attorney General.”

As Attorney General, Harris has vowed to aggressively enforce minimum wage and prevailing wage laws to ensure that hard-working Missourians are fairly compensated for the work they do.

Local 148 represents an estimated 3,000 skilled plant personnel at Ameren UE, other industrial power plants, mechanical service contractors, and in the public sector, which includes MODOT.

Attorney General candidate Jeff Harris today picked up the support of the Sheet Metal Workers Local 36.

From the press release:

David Zimmerman, President and Business Manager for Local 36, said today that, “Jeff Harris is our choice for Attorney General because he has always been there on the issues important to the working people of this state. Jeff has stood up and fought for what’s important and we have no doubt he’ll do the same as our next Attorney General. Working families should rally around Harris. We are proud to endorse him.”

“It has been my privilege to stand with organized labor on behalf of the working men and women of this state,” Harris said. “Today, I am proud to have the members of Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 36 standing with me and supporting my candidacy for Attorney General.”

As Attorney General, Harris has vowed to aggressively enforce minimum wage and prevailing wage laws to ensure that hard-working Missourians are fairly compensated for the work they do.

Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 36 has over 3,000 members in eastern Missouri, including the greater St. Louis metropolitan area, Columbia, Jefferson City, and Springfield.

St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch has joined the Chris Koster bandwagon. The County’s top law enforcer joins a long (and growing) list of endorsers of the Republican-turned-Democrat’s bid for Attorney General.

From the press release:

“Chris Koster has been a true member of Missouri’s law enforcement community,” McCulloch said. “He has walked the crime scenes, examined the witnesses, and made closing arguments in big cases time after time. When it comes to street-level law enforcement, Koster has truly walked the walk.”

McCulloch continued, “Koster was vice-president of the Missouri Association of Prosecutors when he joined the senate. Prosecutors throughout Missouri trust his leadership. It is critical that we have someone with his law enforcement background as Attorney General. I look forward to communicating with the citizens of the greater St. Louis area and telling them why Chris Koster will be a great Attorney General.”

“I am honored to have the support of Bob McCulloch,” Koster said. “Bob has been a leader in the law enforcement community both in Missouri and the nation for many years. Because of that, his endorsement today is especially close to my heart.”