In conversations with Victor Callahan, Paul LeVota and Bryan Pratt, it’s almost difficult to believe the three men represent two different political parties.
While in Eastern Jackson County after completing another week of work in Jefferson City, the three men joked around at The Examiner and discussed their visions for the community.
They look after each other, but more importantly, they look out for their constituents of Eastern Jackson County, who have three of the top leaders in the General Assembly call this area home.
Sen. Callahan, D-Independence; Rep. LeVota, D-Independence; and Rep. Pratt, R-Blue Springs; each have leadership positions within the Missouri General Assembly. The roles have clearly defined responsibilities, but as they leave behind their hometowns four days a week from January through May, each man keeps Eastern Jackson County at the forefront of their minds.
ROLE MODELS
As the Senate minority leader, Callahan represents all Democrats in the Missouri Senate, appoints Democratic leaders to Senate committees and represents the Senate in a variety of statutory functions and at leadership meetings. This session, Callahan said he is cognizant of economic downturn and the importance of creating new jobs. New job creation, he said, is the best route out of any recession. The state must evaluate its $700 million in tax credits and their role in job creation and community improvement, Callahan said.
“The crisis has shaken the very fundamentals of our economy, unlike any crisis in my memory,” Callahan said. “I think that requires that we put aside politics as usual. I certainly, all the time, ask Rep. Pratt his view of something before I pursue it. I think he does the same with me.
“I think that the crisis and the issues demand action, and I don’t think that with 214,000 Missourians unemployed that there’s going to be a lot of patience if we play political games.”
In Jefferson City, Callahan often tells people that Eastern Jackson County residents maintain a separate identity from Kansas City.
“While we might be part of a region with Kansas City, Eastern Jackson County has its own needs and issues that are distinct from a large urban city,” Callahan said. “I think we’ve created that identity with our colleagues from the eastern side of the state – Jackson County is not just Kansas City.
“I think where we’re fortunate is that for the first time in decades, if ever, in a bipartisan way, Eastern Jackson County has tremendous representation. We’ve really identified ourselves as an entity and a force in Jefferson City.”
LeVota serves as Missouri House minority leader and the House Democratic leader. He coordinates the caucus on legislation, but outside the Capitol, he recruits Democratic candidates and assists with their campaigns.
Pratt is the speaker pro tem of the Missouri House, which is one of only two positions elected by the entire House. Pratt presides over the House and develops House policy initiatives. He also travels across the state to recruit Republicans into office.
Despite their party differences, LeVota’s and Pratt’s top priority for Eastern Jackson County, like Callahan’s, remains the same: job creation.
And while they’re two hours away from home, their families and constituents, “Eastern Jackson County comes first,” Pratt said.
“The folks that sent us to Jefferson City need us. Paul and I have both used our leadership positions to fight for Eastern Jackson County,” Pratt said. “For most folks in the (Missouri) General Assembly, it’s always been Kansas City, St. Louis and outstate Missouri. And now, Eastern Jackson County has its own identity in Jefferson City, thanks in large part to our respective leadership.”
The priorities have always been clear and simple in LeVota’s eyes.
“You represent your district first, always, and your party second,” he said. “When you’re in a leadership position and you’re very clear with who you represent, it doesn’t hurt you in your party structure. It only adds respect, and people in your party respect the fact that you represent your district first.”
Each man spoke separately about the other two leaders and their leadership styles. They consider themselves friends and often consult each other for input.
“Our goal is to ensure that debate is focused on ideas, not personalities,” Pratt said. “Philosophically, we (Callahan, LeVota and Pratt) sometimes differ, but our differences are focused on issues and not on personalities.”
LeVota and Callahan have known each other for 25 years while growing up in Independence _– LeVota said his family supported Callahan from the very beginning while he ran for the Independence City Council.
“I have known for many years what people in Jefferson City are now figuring out that he’s the smartest politician in the state,” LeVota said of Callahan. “I have great admiration for him. I can’t speak enough. I go back to the Independence School District thing – people told Victor Callahan, ‘Oh, that can’t be done.’ Instead of saying, ‘I guess it can’t be done,’ he was determined to do what’s right for the people of his district and figure out a way to do it. There’s not enough public servants who do that, who are so strong in their conviction that they’re going to put aside the naysayers and continue to fight for progress.”
LeVota also praised Pratt and said it was difficult to describe the amount of respect he has for Pratt.
“He is a very bright, hard-working attorney who could be – doing outside of public service stuff – making much more money, but he really cares about the people of Blue Springs and his district, and he’s devoting his time for that,” LeVota said of Pratt. “I know the challenges of leaving your wife and your small children behind when you go to Jefferson City, and that takes a lot of dedication. Rep. Pratt cares so much, and you can’t help but admire the guy for that.”
THE COMMON GOOD
The Eastern Jackson County business community has recognized the leadership efforts of Callahan, LeVota and Pratt. Tom Lesnak, president of the Independence Council for Economic Development, said the three men are willing to work together without partisan lines.
“Any time you have local leadership that has the positions in Jefferson City, the word of your area can be heard a lot clearer,” Lesnak said. “They usually work together for the common good.”
Lesnak also said it is probably a more difficult job for the three leaders to balance the needs of the entire state with those in Eastern Jackson County.
“Their reputation is that they do a good job of looking at the big picture, and I think that’s why they’re in the leadership positions that they are right now,” Lesnak said.
Callahan recognized that if a particular initiative benefits Independence, it also will benefit Blue Springs. And, vice versa, he said.
“I always joke with people that sometimes you get the memos from your political party, attempting to tell you what to do,” Callahan said. “I think all three of us throw those away from time to time when they say to fight the other party because we recognize that it’s better to work together to get something done.”
