Last week at the Ed Martin and Ann Wagner debate, I saw an old friend.   She was excited to share with me that back in late August she was honored to receive the Woman of Tribute award from the Missouri Federation of Republican Women.  The luncheon and awards ceremony is held every other year in Columbia, MO.  The central location is so that women from all over the state can attend and won’t have so far to drive.

She proceeded to tell me more about her experience at this event.  Ann Wagner was invited to be the keynote speaker at this year’s luncheon.  She was asked to speak before she declared her candidacy for Congress.  According to MoFRW bylaws, and as a club, at either the state level or local level, endorsing any candidates in the primary is not permitted.  Once Ann declared she was running for Congress, I was told the woman in charge of the luncheon, she had called Ann to explain that her speech at the luncheon could not be a campaign speech.  Following, Ann agreed to the terms and was kept as the MoFRW keynote speaker this year.

According to my friend, on the morning of the luncheon when Ann arrived in Columbia, she was again told that she could not use her address as a campaign speech.  Again, Ann had agreed to the terms.  But, as soon as Ann began speaking, my friend said it was painfully evident that she was going against MoFRW bylaws.  Ann used her time speaking to further her own campaign for Congress.

My friend was dispirited that Ann blatantly disregarded the instructions given to her by the MoFRW board.  As the MoFRW bylaws state, if one primary candidate speaks at a club meeting all the candidates must be invited to the event with each given equal time to speak.  Obviously, Ann was the only candidate invited, it was impossible to give Ed Martin equal time and she knew that.

Disheartened, my friend told me that Ann left as soon as she was done speaking.  Ann didn’t have the courtesy to stay long enough for the women to be honored and receive their awards.  In addition, this was the first time a keynote speaker did not stay at the luncheon for the entire program.

Missouri Federation of Republican Women hosts’ recognition luncheon; honors Boone County Donna Spickert 

Some 120 Republican women and guests attended the thirteenth Women of Tribute Recognition Luncheon held at the Courtyard Marriott in Columbia, Missouri, on Saturday, August 27. The event was hosted by the Missouri Federation of Republican Women (MoFRW).

In a friends own words, her personal opinion is that Ann couldn’t be bothered with something as trivial as honoring Republican women, since none have had titles like she has, (Chairman MoGOP, Co-Chairman RNC, Ambassador to Luxembourg, etc.)

The MoFRW board was embarrassed by Ann’s total lack of regard for their state bylaws.  After the luncheon, there was talk about the state president sending a letter of apology to all the state clubs for Ann’s campaign speech, as well as affirming MoFRW will not be endorsing Ann.  The letter was never sent.  She is not sure why other than the obvious, which is that Ann talked to MoGOP and asked them to keep the MoFRW state president from addressing the issue.

Ann’s lack of integrity and her arrogant attitude towards her constituents is proof that she should not be the nominee for second district U.S. Rep.
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