Asbridge could be overseas for general election
September 19, 2008 19 Comments
 |
| Asbridge |
Ryan Asbridge, a Republican seeking the 25th District House seat, has been ordered to active duty in the United States Navy.
Asbridge is a Naval intelligence officer and went abroad in May during the primary season. This deployment — which could occur in the next few days — could very well mean that Asbridge will be overseas for the duration of the general election season.
But Asbridge’s campaign will continue through a stable of volunteers who are assisting with his state legislative bid.
“My country has called on me, but I want the people of the 25th District to know that my campaign to represent them will continue and I am confident that I will be back to represent them in the Legislature in Jefferson City for the 2009 session,” Asbridge said in a statement. “I am grateful to my many supporters who will carry on my campaign and I am hopeful that voters in the District understand that my duty to my country must come first.”
It is not unprecedented for candidates to be abroad during elections. State Rep. Jason Brown, R-Platte County, was in Iraq as a member of the Army Reserve during the 2006 election season. Brown was shot by a sniper in October of that year, but ultimately made a full recovery. He went on to win re-election.
Asbridge is facing off against Democrat Mary Still in the contest to replace state Rep. Judy Baker, D-Columbia.
About jrosenbaum
J.A.R. 
Has Ashbridge even been campaigning?
Also Jason Brown missed almost the entire legislative session in 2007 while deployed. He was absent and cast no votes until mid-April.
Good luck and stay safe Asbridge!
I really think that when people begin to look at this race and the differences between Asbridge and Still it will become very apparent which one will bring real change to Jeff City.
Columbia and the University has had a minority voice in Jeff City for too long. It’s time that we put someone in office that knows about respect, duty, and honor. Not just another professional political spin artist.
Go Asbridge!
Would the former Director for the University of Missouri News Bureau not be a strong voice for the University?
Mary Still has served the state of Missouri for almost 20 years.
Mary Still will still be in the monority party and unable to negotiate effectivly in Jeff City.
She is seen by members of both parties as a democratic insider and spin artist. Not the type of leadership we need. I am sure that as an individual she is a good person, but when we have a choice between her and a stand up guy like Asbridge the choice is clear.
Ryan Asbridge is the best person to represent us in Jeff City.
You’re right, we shouldn’t have minority representation in JC. Vote for Kelly Schultz in the 21st and Chris Kelly in the 24th. That will be a good start to relieving that problem
When using the comment line on a story about a candidate being called up to serve his country to promote said candidate’s opponent, you probably shouldn’t use wimpy, passive voice structures like ” Would the former Director for the University of Missouri News Bureau not be a strong voice for the University?”
Try this on for size – Ryan Asbridge will be a strong voice for the 25th District. His active duty service is a strong statement about who he is and will help his credibility as he works with lawmakers from around the state to promote good governance for our state and further the interests of the 25th District within that larger context.
Ms. Still is a nice person and it was very nice that she served as someone who fashioned how the MU markets itself via the news, both in what was released and what was not.
Do you want more marketing or do you want a strong candidate that may, it is true, sometime be called upon by his country to miss a few floor votes?
What I want to know is why can’t our service men and women who are politicians vote? Why can’t they call it in?
As a personal friend of Ryan’s for over 10 years I wish him the best and pray for his safe return.
I know that the 25th would be a better place with Ryan in office. He cares about the people of Columbia and is willing to put it all on the line to protect them. I can’t think of a better person to represent us in Jefferson City.
Voting for someone just because they might be in the majority party is a fairly weak argument. What if he was in the minority party?
Should people vote for all the Democratic candidates for Congress because they will be in the majority?
How long is Ashbridge’s tour of duty? He can’t do anything for Columbia or the University while on active duty, and if he’s not in Jeff City by the end of March, he will have no influence on funding for the University, regardless of what party he is.
setting it straight:
As a veteran and an employee of the House, I think I can answer your question.
On the House side, votes move quickly and are very fluid. It rarely takes more than a few minutes from the time a roll call vote is called for to the time that the vote is closed. Even then, many of those 3 or 4 minute votes are to allow members to introduce special guests. In order to ensure that fluid movement, the rules don’t allow for members to vote after the fact.
On the military side, I served in the Navy. While I served in combat theatres, I was lucky enough to never really see “the action” that some servicemembers saw. And yet, I can tell you that it would be very hard to conduct votes in a military setting due to the constant uptempo pace of a military environment. There would be too much concentration on politics and votes, and not enough on the mission.
That being said, Ryan has my vote. He’s a strong voice for the community and the university, and will be tremendously effective in Jeff City.
GO ASBRIDGE!
Pretty arrogant to think the one party is going to stay in the majority forever. It is also pretty silly to vote for someone just because they are in the majority party. Only need 11 races to from R to D for the Dems to be majority. The 20th, 21st, and 24th would be 3 of them
It seems his deployments are fashioned to expand his political career. As a military member, I know that a soldier does not get deployed in May than again in September unless of course that soldier volunteers for the deployments. If Asbridge truly wants to serve his district, he shouldn’t be volunteering for cush military assignments that pull him out of the district. The other candidate is a better choice, at least he or she will be around to represent the district.
cush
How the hell would you know what Asbridge is going to be doing, much less where he will be doing it?
For a person to make the claim that Ryan is using his military career to further his political goals is pretty obscene. You clearly have not met him a single time and certainly would not talk like that in public where your identity would be known.
Ryan is an Intelligence Officer. A job that is demanding to say the least. While I do not have any inside knowledge of his orders, I can say that Ryan expects to return in time for the general assembly and will be here to represent the district. I can also assure you that he in no way attempted to get deployed so that he would not be here on the 4th. He wants nothing more than to spend time with the folks in the 25th district and will certainly do so once he returns.
Ryan is a man that puts his country first and his political ambitions somewhere after that. This country and this district would be a better place if more public servants had those priorities.
@huh?: “Voting for someone just because they might be in the majority party is a fairly weak argument. What if he was in the minority party?”
But voting for someone just because they were the chief media flack for the University is a STRONG argument?
Voting for someone based on their party affiliation and that party’s ability to move legislation through the system is what the two-party system is all about. Good grief, of course it should part of the reason to vote for someone. Not the ONLY reason, but part of it.
And to those of you are trying to smear Ryan and say he has somehow manipulated the Department of Defense to schedule his tours, you are sick and sad. Take the time to meet Ryan. Have a cup of coffee with the man. You may still not vote for him in November, but you’ll see what kind of a class act he is.
Ryan is willing to put his country first. Isn’t that what we are looking for in public servants? His willingness to serve our county in the armed services, even when it is not easy for his professional goals, just proves that he is what the 25th needs in Jeff City.
I don’t think anyone is (or should) be doubting his intentions to do good. Both positions require a great commitment of time and energy. One thing that I think many people might be wondering is how he would be able to fulfill both job requirements to the fullest without being absent from one or the other.
pretty funny, you all don’t think Baker has a chance in the 9th, but you delude yourself that Ryan might win. I haven’t seen him campaign anywhere, no one knows who he is. People know Mary Still.
Sorry, but the field of politics is rough and if he is overseas and not campaigning, he’s gonna lose.
Also don’t turn him into a victim, it makes him look even weaker