Sen. Bond visits Moberly

It’s summertime and political candidates are out meeting the constituents. U.S. Senator Christopher “Kit’ Bond was in Moberly Sunday but not campaigning for himself. After a political career of over 40 years, Bond is retiring. But he is tirelessly seeking votes and contributions for one he hopes will take his place: Roy Blunt.

Bond, who resides in Mexico, began his political career in Missouri in 1969 as assistant attorney general. By the next year he was state auditor. He became the state’s 47^th governor in 1973 at age 33, the youngest in the state to have attained that position. He served two non-consecutive terms as governor before heading off to Washington, D.C. in 1986 as senator.

“I was about 17 years into my political career when my mother told me to get a real job and support my family,” said Bond. “Twenty-five years later I am finally taking my mother’s advice.”

Bond said he has worked hard to meet the people all over the state and take their “guidance and ideas back to Washington.”

Bond said he thinks the country is headed down the wrong path, the same path Greece, and closer to home, Illinois and California, were on five years ago. He backs Blunt because he thinks he has the same core values and beliefs that Bond has, conservative ideas about spending and controlling the growth of government.

Bond said he will remain active working on behalf of Missouri even after he leaves office “to make sure our views are known,” he said.

“I have mixed emotions about leaving office,” said Bond. “But I leave with a heart filled with gratitude.”