Jay Ashcroft or Yinka Faleti? The choice is clear for Missouri secretary of state
Missourians should elect Yinka Faleti as their next secretary of state.
The case for Faleti, a Democrat, is overwhelming. His personal story is deeply compelling — the embodiment of the American dream. His resume is outstanding. His knowledge of relevant issues is rock solid.
His passion for the state, and for the nation, is clear. Of all the candidates The Star Editorial Board interviewed this election season, Faleti was easily the most impressive.
He would earn our strong endorsement for those facts alone. In this case, though, there’s another reason Missourians should vote for Faleti: His opponent, Republican Jay Ashcroft, is a partisan failure who is more responsible than any other person for the state’s outrageously confusing voter laws.
Ashcroft, who did not agree to interview with us, is in office for one reason: his last name.
Contrast that with Faleti’s life story. He was born in Nigeria, emigrating to the United States at age 7. His family moved from state to state, fighting poverty. Hunger was a constant.
But the young man studied hard, graduating from the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science before accepting an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
He served on active duty for six years, including two deployments to Kuwait.
He returned to St. Louis, where he studied law at Washington University. After work in a private law firm, and in the circuit attorney’s office, Faleti began working for the United Way. He later served as executive director of Forward Through Ferguson, a nonprofit dedicated to finding racial equity in that troubled community.
With every step — immigrant, student, soldier, lawyer, community leader — Faleti has demonstrated a fierce commitment to helping others, serving his nation, and pursuing success.
Now he wants to be Missouri’s secretary of state. Among other duties, the secretary oversees the voting process in the state.
“I want to make voting easier, and more accessible,” he said. “Voting is a right, not a privilege. And we need to make sure Missourians are able to exercise that freely.”
This should not be a controversial statement. Yet in virtually every way, with every decision, Jay Ashcroft has made it more difficult for Missourians to participate in democracy.
He has opposed early, no-excuse voting. He has resisted efforts to allow mail-in voters to drop off their ballots instead of mailing them. He has endorsed voter ID and a requirement that some ballots be notarized, measures which can increase the cost of voting.
Ashcroft has claimed, without evidence, that voter fraud is a bigger danger than hacking election equipment.
He has tried to eviscerate Missourians’ rights to petition and referendum. He manipulated state laws to make a referendum on abortion rights nearly impossible. He has submitted nakedly slanted ballot language the courts have discarded.
This year, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ashcroft ordered his employees back to the office.
In all of this, the incumbent has acted as a partisan, not as secretary of state for all Missourians. His ambition is clear. His faith in democracy is not.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWho decides the endorsements?
Members of The Kansas City Star Editorial Board interview political candidates, as well as advocates and opponents of ballot measures. The editorial board is comprised of seasoned opinion journalists and is separate from The Star’s newsroom. The board’s members are editorial writers Toriano Porter and Mara’ Rose Williams — all veteran journalists with decades of experience. Editors Derek Donovan is also a member, and editor David Tarrant, while not a member of the board, reads and often improves each editorial we publish. Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.
What does the endorsement process entail?
The Star Editorial Board invites candidates in each race to meet with the board in an on-the-record discussion, the purpose of which is more fully understand what distinguishes one candidate from another. Board members do additional reporting and research to learn as much as possible about the candidates. The editorial board then convenes to discuss the candidates in each race. Board members seek to reach a consensus on the endorsements, but not every decision is unanimous..
Is the editorial board partisan?
No. In making endorsements, members of the editorial board consider which candidates are well prepared to represent their constituents — not whether they agree with us or belong to a particular political party. We do weigh heavily their stances on issues we consider basic tests of judgment and candor, such as whether they even acknowledge climate change as real, or if they continue to deny the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election. We weigh these factors against many others, and state clearly what our conclusions are. Primarily, we evaluate candidates’ relevant experience, their readiness for office, their depth of knowledge of key issues and their understanding of public policy. We’re seeking candidates who are thoughtful and who offer more than just party-line talking points. The editorial board will endorse both Republicans and Democrats, making recommendations about who the best-qualified candidate for each job is.
Why are endorsements unsigned?
Endorsements reflect the collective views of The Star’s editorial board — not just the opinion of one writer. Board members all discuss and contribute ideas to each endorsement editorial.
“He’s not taking his job seriously,” Faleti said. “He doesn’t understand. And maybe he doesn’t understand because he never wore a uniform. I did.”
In its nearly 200 years of existence, Missouri has never elected an African American to statewide office. “That is not a point of pride for our state,” Faleti said. “That is a point of opportunity for change.”
Missourians can be proud that a man like Yinka Faleti lives in their state and wants to serve. They should seize the opportunity by electing him secretary of state and sending Jay Ashcroft home.
This story was originally published October 19, 2020 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Jay Ashcroft or Yinka Faleti? The choice is clear for Missouri secretary of state."