Last time Republican Congressman Sam Graves ran for re-election, his challenger was Kay Barnes -- and the big-name, well-funded, supposedly formidable former Kansas City mayor got her ass kicked. If Barnes couldn't beat Graves and his goon-powered machine, one political consultant told me, no one could.
One of Graves' newest challengers? An insurance salesman from Excelsior Springs who's never run for office. And who's gay.
Is it a suicide mission, or is Clint Hylton serious?
"I have so many people ask me that question," Hylton says.
"The bottom line is that Sam isn't for the small guy," Hylton says. "I've seen how he's voted on so many things, especially credit card reform, which needed to happen. His contributions are from big business and that's how he votes. It shouldn't be like that."
Graves might be a household name in the rural 6th District, but Hylton has made a name for himself there, too.
Working with the Chamber of Commerce, Hylton says, he helped revive Excelsior Springs' failing Waterfest. He was president of the Chamber for two years and president of the Excelsior Springs Museum. In 2008 the Chamber named him Citizen of the Year.
He says he was equally active when he lived in Liberty. "I was in charge of the Liberty Fall Festival for a few years, so a lot of people know me there." Being an insurance agent gives him a chance to meet a lot of people. "If you talk to my clients you'll hear that I'm a very hardworking, honest, dedicated individual and work for them at every opportunity."
"I feel like Clint's honest," says Wanda Dusek, who worked with Hylton on Waterfest. "A lot of people like Clint. Clint's got a good name here. He works for
the city to get things done."
Dusek and her
husband run a small business in Excelsior Springs; they prefer I don't name it because they don't want it dragged into politics. Dusek will, however, admit that she's a Republican.
"I know Clint's gay," she says. "A lot of other people know Clint's gay. I feel like he's a person. He's a good person. I don't dislike him because he's that way. I wouldn't want my sons to be that way, but Clint is who he is and he's strong about his feelings and he's a good guy. It has nothing to do with running for office."
It did keep Hylton for running from office for a long time, though.
"I always wanted to be involved in politics," he says. "I wanted to do all of the things that the old stigma about being gay says you can't do." He got married and had a child, but faking it didn't work. Five years later he and his wife divorced. "I felt really horrible about doing that to my ex-wife," he says. "Of course she knew anyway, but it was never talked about." Now, he says, "I'm fortunate to have her in my life still, as a good friend and mother of my son."
That son is now 19 -- and, after fighting a rare form of cancer called Burkitt's lymphoma, has been in remission for almost a year. Hylton says that's one reason he decided to run for Congress.
Hylton says one scientist has linked Burkitt's to pesticides. "I see the stuff going on with farmers and cattle prices. And we're importing so much beef when we have no idea what it's been
fed. Same with crops."
Plus, there was the fight over health-care reform. His son can stay on his insurance for three more years, Hylton says, "but after that he'll be
uninsurable because of his pre-existing cancer." Watching politics, he says, "infuriated me more and more. I didn't see votes protecting the people of Missouri."
Hylton says once people know him, it doesn't matter that he's gay.
for people as a whole," Hylton says. "If you're a woman he's not going to vote for something you want, if you're gay he's not, if you're small business he's not. If it's big business -- he's there."
Besides, Hylton says, it wasn't Barnes' gay support that hurt her. It was her wardrobe.
"I think Kay made some mistakes. I love her to death, but when you go into a rural community and you're not wearing blue jeans, they don't trust you. She had on those $300 suits.
"I am not going to let Sam or [his bare-knuckled consultant] Jeff Roe walk all over me. They'll try it. I love a good challenge, love a good fight. I'm going to be nice but when that doesn't work we'll see what else happens."
Another candidate, Ted Rights, a physician from Hamilton, has also filed in the Democratic primary. We're just glad people are still willing to take on the dim-witted, disingenuous, anti-government hypocrite.
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I am a personal friend of Clint's. I am a republican whose values lean pretty far right. Clint respects that and I respect Clint. As for his sexual preference? What do I care? I want to know who is best for our community and our country. As a small business Owner its my hope that Clint Will look out for us. We create jobs. In the last two years we have had to lay off 53 employees in our residential construction company. It is our hope that Small Business receives the support to put our country back to work. And its the politcians who stand behind big business (who are also big contributors) who I believe are prevent this country from getting back on track. Clint has my vote. You have to pick your battles. If we were voting on moral issues, I would probably have to lean the other way. As I am a pro-lifer. But Clint has our State and our District on his mind and I think he will really make a difference.
Finally a guy running for office I can relate to. My wife and I have lived in Ray County for over 40 years. Not since Jerry Litton have I thought a real person was in politics.
Good Luck Clint!
Clint, you have my support! We need more "real folks" in office! Keep focused and support our fellow Missourian's in an honest and ethical manner. That is what we all are asking for!
Clint has helped so many people through the thought times. If Sam Graves plans on pulling his dirty tricks again, then we will look back at the election he fought against Sara Jo, if anyone remembers Sam Graves was voted #1 on Channel 9 News for the Most Dishonest Television Ad ever!
That tells you a little something about your Congressman.
I am so proud of Clint. He helped Excelsior Springs turn our Waterfest around and has been tireless in his work for the community. We need a guy with common sense who understands what it is like to work for a living.
Way to go, Clint! What a great article! I really enjoyed reading about this candidate.
I am showing my support of Clint by adding him on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=h...
and donating to his campaign:
http://www.actblue.com/page/cl...
You should too!!! Graves has a lot of money due to his love big business
Clint went out of his way to welcome me and my family when we moved here about 2 years ago and it will be nice to have someone who understands the needs of working people in Congress instead of the current sold-out hog at our tax trough.
You have my support, Time for Big Corporate to go and let the people have their voices heard.
Clint can post a yard sign in our front yard in Grave$' district any time.
As for why Barnes lost, I doubt it had much to do with her wardrobe. Her flawed record as a big city mayor that focused on giveaways to downtown developers, as well as Grave$' ruthless political tactics was the keys to her undoing.
If Clint can continue to be down-to-earth; stay focused on the issues affecting so many of us; and continue to be scrappy against Goliath; he just might pull this off. He's going to need a grass roots base to finance a campaign against Grave$' big business backers.
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