A Brief Look at John Brunner

By: Annette Schaefer

At this year’s Missouri Republican Senatorial debates, voters may see some unfamiliar names. One of those names will be first-time politician John Brunner.

Brunner has spent most of his life working for Vi-Jon, his family’s manufacturing company, which produces personal care products such as Germ-X. Brunner has had experience in everything from factory work to running the company as CEO. He has also spent several years serving the nation as an infantry officer in the Marine CORPS before starting his political career.

Brunner has shared a passion for conservative politics for over 40 years and this year decided to take a step in to the political circle and run for Missouri State Senator.
In a speech at the start of his campaign, Brunner stated, “I know what the pundits and elitists will say: ‘This guy doesn’t have any experience or qualifications as a politician.’”

According to the Riverfront Times, he paused and then quickly responded, “Precisely.”

Brunner’s experience in the manufacturing business has inspired several of his political stances, including his desire to bring jobs back to Missouri.

“My plan is to eliminate bureaucratic regulations which strangle our job creators and reduce the tax burden on businesses and family farms,” Brunner stated on his campaign website.

Brunner supports several other conservative issues including reducing the national debt, stopping the funding of useless projects, and maintaining a pro-life position. He also takes a strong approach on following the Constitution the way the forefathers meant it to be followed.

“I pledge to support judicial nominees who will interpret law as it is written, not as they want it to be, and I will oppose any judicial nominees who will attempt to use their position to legislate a liberal agenda,” he explained on his site.
It isn’t just his positions on restoring America that make him a contender for the Senate seat. The public seems more drawn to the fact that he is not a career politician, unlike his competition: current Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill, former Missouri State Treasurer Sarah Steelman and current U.S. Congressman Todd Akin, and how he is using it as an advantage.

“I’ll match my experience as a manufacturer and a job creator against a career politician’s resume of borrowing and spending anytime, anywhere,” he said at his campaign announcement.

Whether Brunner’s charm as a non-career politician will win him a chance in congress is yet to be decided, but he is still a candidate to watch for.

For more information on John Brunner and his campaign, visit Brunner’s official website:http://johnbrunner.com/, or visit him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrunnerForMO?ref=ts.