Democrat Days returns

After two-year hiatus, two-day event hosts hundreds in Springfield
 
The Greene County Democratic Party held their annual Democrat Days of the Ozarks at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Springfield on Friday, April 8 and Saturday, April 9. The rally featured a number of events where guests could meet and speak with political candidates in the Democratic Party. It was the first time the function had been held in two years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rally features break out sessions, time with candidates:

Part of Democrat Days was devoted to “breakout sessions,” where speakers provided guests with information concerning matters that will be important in coming elections. Topics included “So You Want to Run for Office,” “Renewables in Missouri” and “Why Unions Matter.”
Crystal Quade, Missouri Representative for the 132nd House District, delivered a presentation called “Kill that Bill: Gov. 101.” She said she merged her presentation with that of Justin McCarty’s, who delivered the workshop on the importance of labor unions.
“During our breakout session,” she said, “Mr. McCarty did a wonderful breakdown of the history of unions in our state, kind of the legislation that they have been for and against, and kind of what that process has looked like, not only in our state but in the country as well. And then we talked a little bit about coalition building and what it means for Democrats to partner with labor unions on issues for workers’ rights and access to the … voting booths. We (also) talked through things going on in Jefferson City, and some of the bad legislation that we try to oppose when we partnership together between unions and Democrats to protect workers’ rights.”
Another event that took place during Democrat Days was a townhall meeting that U.S. Senate Candidate Lucas Kunce held, during which he answered questions posed to him by a moderator, as well as members of the audience. During the session, he spoke of his time in the Marine Corps and what he saw as dishonesty in Congress.
“We're not signed up for the military for the paycheck,” he said. “We're signed up (because we) believe it's an honorable thing to do, and I think Congress should be the same way. What I see instead is, I see a lot of politicians who make … their next decisions based on their stock portfolios … and they do insider trading based on information they get. They've turned Congress into a get-rich quick scheme rather than about service.”

Banquet caps off rally:

The final event at Democrat Days was the banquet held on Saturday evening. During the meal, attendees heard a speech from Quinton Lucus, the Mayor of Kansas City, also known as “Mayor Q.”
As he spoke, Lucus reminisced about growing up in Kansas City, and how the positive influences he had in his childhood..
“The amazing thing that I learned in Missouri, as a black kid, with a black father and living in a black part of the community, was that we actually could get along when we learned about each other, and when we worked (around) each other. I remember being a Cub Scout and I didn't have my dad around. A nice man down the street, a white man down the street, who said I'll help you with your Derby cars, I remember so many people who said, ‘Quinton, I see something special in you.’ People that said, ‘Quinton, here you can collect my National Geographic magazines; you’re going somewhere young man.’ I saw people that regardless of politics, regardless of background, believed in publicly our communities and our state, and that's what we have to make sure that we return to each and every day.”
Lucus also told a funny story about a woman who asked him to stop interrupting her regular TV programing.
“She said, ‘Mayor Lucus, I love what you're doing and all of that, but could you please move your press conferences?’ He said that when he asked her why, she said, “‘Well, there's so much negativity these days, the only positive I have in my life is watching ‘Days of our Lives,’ every day, and your press conferences always interrupt Days of Our Lives, so could you please just move it back a few hours?’ And I went to my staff, and I said we’ve got to move it back for this lady.”
Near the end of his speech, Lucus told the audience that Missouri is a state with a place for everybody.
“I was a law professor at one point, and occasionally, people will talk to me, and a young man came to my office, a gay gentleman, and he said, ‘You know, I just don't think I belong here.’ And I said, ‘Well, why is that?’ He said, ‘Well, with what's going on in this state, I've had people talk about me, and it's kind of tough when there are politicians statewide who try to not just challenge how you live; they try to challenge who you are.’ I remember listening to that, and that has inspired me for years, because of what I said at that time: ‘Nobody can tell you that this is not your state as well. Not Mike Parson, not Josh Hawley … not anybody can tell you that you don't belong here. You belong here, you are strong and you can stay here and make a difference, and you can stay here and show that Missouri is made up of all of us.’”