Bowman Says Caucus Split Over Vouchers, Nadal Points to Bowman’s Ego

PUB DEF EXCLUSIVE

State Rep. John Bowman told PUB DEF today that under his leadership the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus (MLBC) will continue on the road to becoming an influential player in the State Capitol, despite several members leaving the organization and forming a new caucus last week.

He disputed reports that there are now more African-American House members in the newly formed spin-off organization than are left in the MLBC. “That’s inaccurate,” said Bowman.

PUB DEF was the first to report last week that what was expected to be a normal fight for caucus chairmanship between Bowman and State Rep. Rodney Hubbard ended in several House members accusing Bowman of cheating and using strong-arm tactics to silence his colleagues.

Within hours of Thursday’s meeting, a new organization called the Urban Progressive Caucus (UPC) was being formed, with at least nine state representatives defecting from the MLBC.

Bowman said the state’s three African-American senators (Maida Coleman, Rita Days and Yvonne Wilson) are still in the MLBC, as are the caucus’ “most effective legislators”.

Bowman said those state reps that are criticizing his leadership “never came to meetings” and “never put any work in” to build the organization.

Bowman said he did what he had to do to prevent the caucus from being led by those focused on a single issue — school vouchers. Hubbard and his close ally, State Rep. Ted Hoskins, have been vocal supporters of a form of vouchers (or “school choice”). Both are now members of the new UPC.

But State Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, also a defecting black caucus member, has been a vocal critic of vouchers, even helping to oust Hoskins from the chairmanship back in April in large part over his strong support of the issue.

In the past, she and Hubbard have been seen as bitter political enemies. But last week the two put their differences aside.

“For Rodney and I to come together would not have happened unless for these extraordinary conditions,” Nadal told PUB DEF.

“This has nothing to do with school vouchers. It has everything to do with [Bowman’s] failed leadership and ego,” she said.

When asked how Nadal’s involvement fits into his description of a single-issue agenda causing this fight, Bowman said, “I can’t explain what Maria does from minute-to-minute.”

“I refuse to even try to understand her anymore,” said Bowman.

Nadal points to herself and at least five other members of the new caucus that are anti-vouchers — State Reps. Jamilah Nasheed (St. Louis City), Connie Johnson (St. Louis City), Martin Rucker (St. Joseph), Michael Brown (Kansas City), and Leonard Hughes (Kansas City).

Hughes agreed that what happened had nothing to do with vouchers.

“It’s about a breath of fresh air in the new millennium,” said Hughes.

“I don’t think John Bowman is a bad leader. I just think it was a bad situation for everybody.”