Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon

UPDATE: Basye to appear on April CPS school board ballot

February 1, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Then-State Rep. Chuck Basye (R-Rocheport) speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on April 21, 2021 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

A former Missouri lawmaker’s name will appear on April’s Columbia school board ballot, under an order from Boone County Circuit Judge Brouck Jacobs.

The judge issued a two-page ruling late Tuesday afternoon, directing Boone County clerk Brianna Lennon to add former State Rep. Chuck Basye’s (R-Rocheport) name to the April 4^th ballot.

Columbia Public Schools (CPS) spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark tells 939 the Eagle that CPS will not appeal Judge Jacobs’ decision.

The judge ruled Monday that CPS violated state statute in Basye’s school board filing case. Judge Jacobs issued his decision after a two-hour bench trial.

Basye, a former Missouri House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee chair, filed a 16-page lawsuit against CPS and the board, saying they broke state law when they didn’t accept his candidate filing on December 27. The district says Basye didn’t follow CPS rules about making an appointment by December 22. Judge Jacobs ruled that requiring an appointment violated state law.

Basye expressed confidence he would appear on the April ballot, during a Tuesday interview on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri.”

Monday trial set in Basye lawsuit against CPS regarding Columbia school board ballot

January 25, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Then-State Rep. Chuck Basye (R-Rocheport) speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on May 2, 2022 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

We should know Monday afternoon whether or not former State Rep. Chuck Basye’s (R-Rocheport) name will be listed on the April Columbia school board ballot.

939 the Eagle News was in Boone County Circuit Court for Tuesday’s hearing, when Judge Brouck Jacobs scheduled Monday’s trial on the case’s merits. Judge Jacobs announced in open court that he intends to rule on Monday.

Basye has filed a 16-page lawsuit against Columbia Public Schools (CPS) and the board, alleging they violated state law when they wouldn’t accept his candidate filing on December 27, the final day of filing under state law. However, the Aslin building was closed that day, due to it being a district holiday. CPS says filing was available by appointment that day, but that appointments needed to have been made by December 22.

County counselor Charles Dykhouse tells Judge Jacobs that Boone County clerk Brianna Lennon will obey any order regarding the ballot. Whichever side loses on Monday is expected to appeal to the Western District Court of Appeals.

Former Missouri House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee chairman Basye sat in the courtroom on Tuesday, along with State Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch (R-Hallsville).

Columbia Democratic lawmaker and former state party chair defend mayor from criticism over drag queen performance

January 24, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (left) speaks to St. Louis Public Radio political correspondent Jason Rosenbaum at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City on January 18, 2023 (photo courtesy of Governor Parson’s Flickr page)

“Nothing short of deplorable.” That’s how Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R) describes Thursday’s Columbia diversity celebration that featured three drag queens who performed before 1,000 people, including about 30 Columbia Public Schools (CPS) students.

A key mid-Missouri Democratic state lawmaker, a former state party chair and the Boone County clerk are defending the event.

Attorney General Bailey is blasting Columbia Public Schools (CPS) and Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, telling “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that the drag show is an outward expression of desired sexuality.

“This issue is about protecting children. And if the school officials who are charged with the care, custody and control of those kids aren’t concerned about what’s in the best interest of the child and protecting our children and giving the parents a voice, then we will step up and do it for them,” Bailey says.

State Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on February 7, 2022 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The attorney general says all options are on the table, adding that he’s committed to ensuring that our school system is educating children, not indoctrinating them.

State Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) has written a letter to Mayor Buffaloe, supporting Thursday’s Columbia Values Diversity celebration. Representative Smith writes that “those who criticize the city, the school district or others in supporting diversity must not be allowed to damper our spirit of inclusion.”

CPS Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood says although CPS was unaware what the performance by NClusion+ at the Holiday Inn Expo Center would entail, it was not an adult performance. Dr. Yearwood’s letter to Governor Mike Parson (R) says the attorney general is misrepresenting what happened at Thursday’s breakfast. Bailey disputes that and takes exception to Yearwood’s letter.

Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe (second from left) poses with performers after the January 19, 2023 Columbia Values Diversity Celebration. Mayor Buffaloe tweeted after the event that “as hate crimes against drag show locations and performers are being committed in other communities, we want to reaffirm that Columbia is a community that supports all” (photo courtesy of Columbia Mayor Buffaloe’s Twitter page)

“Well the superintendent says well look, we didn’t really know what was going to be at the event. Okay so that’s an admission of willful negligence. If that’s true it’s an admission of willful negligence. But I disagree with that, I reject that. They had an affirmative duty to know and several school officials were listed on the program, so I think they did know,” Bailey tells listeners.

The attorney general says the drag queen performance was inherently sexual.

“I am calling for the resignation of termination of any school official that knew that the drag show was going to be part of the event and willfully took children to the event. They need to resign or be terminated immediately,” says Bailey.

Former Missouri Democratic Party chair Stephen Webber, a former Columbia state representative, defends the event and is grateful to Mayor Barbara Buffaloe. Webber tweeted, in part: “We can’t let incendiary, bad faith attacks against vulnerable communities go unchallenged.”

Boone County clerk Brianna Lennon, who attended the breakfast, also defends the performance. She tweeted “I want to echo support for the CoMo Values Diversity planning committee, CPS, the city and the participants for creating a beautiful program to reflect our community. I’ve attended many breakfasts and this year was one of my favorites.”

Click here to listen to Wednesday’s full “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” interview with Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey.

Columbia’s school board to discuss April board ballot tonight

January 9, 2023 By Brian Hauswirth

It looks like former State Rep. Chuck Basye (R-Rocheport) will not appear on the April ballot for Columbia’s school board, barring court intervention.

The board meets tonight at 6:30 and is scheduled to approve the sample ballot for the April 4 election. Seven names are on the sample ballot, listed in the board packet. They are, in order, Paul Harper, John Potter, Christopher Horn, Dean Peter Klempke, James Edward Gordon, John Lyman and April Ferrao.

Basye tried to file on December 27, which was the final day of filing under state law. However, CPS’ Aslin building was closed that day due to it being a district holiday. CPS says filing was available by appointment, but appointments had to be made by December 22. Bayse ended up filing on December 27 at the Boone County clerk’s office.

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (R) has told 939 the Eagle that a CPS policy cannot conflict with state law. Ashcroft also says he has full confidence that Boone County clerk Brianna Lennon (D) will make sure that everyone who legally filed for office will be listed on the April ballot. Lennon tells 939 the Eagle that while she appreciates Secretary Ashcroft’s confidence and support, the filing documents and certification process is ultimately CPS’ responsibility under the law.

“My office’s authority is administrative as far as filing goes- we accept certifications from school districts, municipalities and local political subdivisions for the April election until January 24th,” Lennon says.

Basye told 939 the Eagle that he met with an attorney in late December to discuss his options if he’s kept off the April ballot.

Ashcroft is confident in Boone County’s clerk regarding Columbia school board filing

December 30, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

State Rep. Chuck Basye (R-Rocheport) speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on May 2, 2022 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Missouri’s secretary of state is closely monitoring the controversy involving this week’s attempt by outgoing State Rep. Chuck Basye (R-Rocheport) to file for Columbia’s school board.

Basye tried to file on Tuesday at the Aslin building, but it was a district holiday and the offices were closed. Columbia Public Schools (CPS) spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark tells 939 the Eagle that filing was available that day by appointment but that the appointments had to be made by December 22. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft tells 939 the Eagle that state law allows candidates to file up until 5 pm on December 27.

“Whatever their policy is, it cannot conflict with state law. So if someone is questioning whether or not the policy is effective, you’re going to have to see if whether or not it contradicts state law,” Ashcroft says.

Basye ended up filing Tuesday at Boone County clerk Brianna Lennon’s office, rather than the Aslin building. GOP Secretary of State Ashcroft tells 939 the Eagle that Ms. Lennon, a Democrat, is the election authority in Columbia. Counselor Lennon is also an attorney.

“Brianna Lennon and I obviously don’t agree on everything politically, because we come at it from different sides of the political spectrum. But Brianna Lennon, I have full confidence that she will make sure that everyone that legally filed for office by the deadline will be included on the ballot. She will make sure that things are done correctly,” says Ashcroft.

Ms. Baumstark notes filing isn’t certification and that candidates must be certified and the school board must authorize a notice of election and sample ballot, before candidates are officially placed on a ballot. Baumstark says the board must do this by January 30 as required by law. Baumstark has told 939 the Eagle that the board plans to do this at their January 9 meeting.

Representative Basye says he met Thursday with an attorney, to discuss his options if he’s kept off the April ballot.