Jon Swedien

JSWEDIEN@NEWS-LEADER.COM

COLUMBIA — Unlike in past Republican gubernatorial debates, the focus Thursday was not on roads, taxes or regulations, but rather on the controversial $1 million donation candidate Eric Greitens has received.

During the debate, Catherine Hanaway, one of four Republican candidates for governor of Missouri, renewed her call for Greitens to return or give to charity a $1 million donation he received from a Silicon Valley donor.

Greitens said he would keep the $1 million in campaign donations from the California venture capitalist accused of sexual abuse.

Hanaway wasn't alone.

"I don't think you'll be able to maintain this," Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder told Greitens during the debate.

Kinder noted in a post-debate press conference that Republican presidential candidate John Kasich's super PAC is giving a contribution from the same donor to charities that fight human trafficking.

Greitens quickly shot back at both Hanaway and Kinder during the debate.

"Unlike career politicians, I'm not going to try someone in the court of public opinion," Greitens said.

He also accused Hanaway, the former Missouri Speaker of the House and U.S. Attorney, of not supporting gun rights early in her political career and brought up a scandal involving Kinder and a stripper from 2011.

"I think, Peter, you're the last man on this stage who should be trafficking in stories about men hanging out in strip clubs," Greitens said.

The fourth Republican candidate, businessman John Brunner, didn't speak about the controversial donation during the debate. In a press conference after the debate, Brunner said he, too, thinks Greitens should return or give away the donation.

"While the court has yet to sort out all the facts, as Mr. Greitens has said, what we do know, or what Mr. Goguen has admitted, he's admitted that he's had a relationship with this woman for over 10 years spanning three of his marriages, he has admitted that she had to have surgery, he has admitted that he has paid her $10 million and had an agreement to pay her $40 million in hush money," Hanaway said.

During his post-debate remarks, Greitens was resolute that he would not give back the money

"What is really important is if you are taking a stand on principle then you stand on principle. My stand as I demonstrated very clearly tonight is that unlike the career politicians, I am not going to convict someone in the court of public opinion. We are going to see what the facts are so we can make a decision and a judgement based on that," Greitens said.

In response to a question, Greitens said he did attend a fundraiser in California this week that was attended by Michael Goguen, who was sued in California last week by a woman alleging that he sexually abused her for more than a decade. Greitens said Goguen did not make a contribution at that event.

During the debate, both Brunner and Greitens billed themselves as political outsiders.

"I'm not looking to jump start or extend a political career," Brunner said.

Meanwhile, Kinder touted his political experience, saying he is the only Republican candidate to win three statewide elections. In responding to a question, Kinder said that Brunner and Greitens have displayed some political naivete on the "nuts and bolts" of state politics.

"I think they have some work to do. They are both friends of mine. We tend to get cliches and bromides and sayings from boxing coaches...Yes, I think we can probe deeper for better answers form them, and I'm not sure they're demonstrating a knowledge of nuts and bolts of state government, Kinder said.

Kinder specifically took issue with Greitens' statement that all state tax credits are bad, noting some tax credits go to support single mothers and neighborhood revitalization programs.

On questions of the economy, the candidates held similar positions. All said they would support right-to work legislation. They also said they would look to lower or simplify state taxes and reduce regulation on business.

Asked whether they were willing to increase taxes to improve the state's ailing roads and bridges, the candidates either said no or expressed a strong unwillingness to do so.

Hanaway said she would consider a sales tax to increase revenue for roads only if there was a corresponding decrease in income taxes. Brunner said he would find "efficiencies."

Greitens has said the way to solve the state's road funding issues is to overhaul its entire budgeting process, and he called for zero-based budgeting, which would require state departments to completely rework their budgets each year. Kinder didn't directly rule out a tax increase but said the next governor needed to earn Missourians' trust by showing he or she is fiscally responsible.

The debate was held inside the Missouri Theatre in Columbia. The debate was sponsored by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, the University of Missouri and KMOU.

The Associated Press contributed to this story