At age 89, former KC mayor Charles B. Wheeler running for Missouri governor

Former state senator and Kansas City mayor Charles B. Wheeler is running as a Democrat for Missouri governor.

Wheeler, 89, filed for candidacy Monday. He would need to beat the current Democratic front-runner, Attorney General Chris Koster, in a primary. Leonard J. Steinman II of Jefferson City and Eric Morrison of Kansas City also have filed as Democratic candidates. according to the secretary of state’s office.

Wheeler was elected to a four-year term in the state Senate in 2002 and served with Koster. Wheeler was mayor of Kansas City from 1971-1979.

Republicans running for the state’s top executive office are suburban St. Louis businessman John Brunner, former Navy SEAL Eric Greitens, former Missouri House speaker and U.S. attorney Catherine Hanaway and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder. Cissie W. Spragins of Kansas City has filed as a Libertarian candidate.

The primary is Aug. 2. The general election is Nov. 8.

Gubernatorial hopefuls and other office-seekers have until 5 p.m. Tuesday to file.

This story was originally published March 28, 2016 at 7:12 PM with the headline "At age 89, former KC mayor Charles B. Wheeler running for Missouri governor."