Possible candidate for governor comes to Springfield

A possible candidate for governor of Missouri passed through Springfield on Saturday afternoon.

John Brunner, who has formed a committee to explore running for governor as a Republican in 2016, spoke in front of a small group on Saturday at the Lamplighter Inn at the intersection of Sunshine Street and Glenstone Avenue in Springfield.

Brunner, who ran for U.S. Senate in 2012 but lost to Todd Akin in the primary, said his experience running a business in St. Louis would help him handle the responsibilities of Missouri’s highest state office.

“My vision is for Missouri as a go-to, can-do, get-it-done state,” Brunner said. “We can get jobs back in Missouri.”

In an event hosted by the Greene County Republican Women, Brunner outlined his vision for Missouri’s future. He said he wants the state to be a place that attracts businesses and has improved infrastructure and education.

“If we are going to go out and sell jobs and opportunities and growth and that this is the best place in the country to be, there are a lot of basic things that we have to get fixed and done here in Missouri before we can go out and do that,” Brunner said.

Brunner spoke for about 30 minutes on Saturday and then took some questions from the small group in attendance.

Brunner said while he explores the possibility of running for governor, he is traveling the state and taking time to sit down and engage with the citizens — which is why he was in Springfield on Saturday.

Brunner said his loss in the 2012 Senate race could actually be a positive in the 2016 governor’s race since he has experienced the scrutiny that candidates face leading up to an election.

A former Marine, Brunner said if he is elected he will rely on his military, business and nonprofit experiences to help him guide Missouri.

Brunner carries a copy of the U.S. Constitution in his jacket pocket. He said he is a “conservative through and through.”

“I have confidence in the folks across Missouri, I have been across the state many, many times,” Brunner said. “All we need to do is get big government out of the way, allow the individual freedoms and entrepreneur spirit to really live again in this state. It’s amazing what we can do.”

Brunner is chairman of Vi-Jon Inc., the St. Louis company that produces Germ-X hand sanitizer.