Tour of Missouri survives political skirmish, skips CoMo

A statewide bicycle race hardly seems a likely catalyst for a titanic political struggle. But that’s what happened when Gov. Jay Nixon attempted to cut funding for the Tour of Missouri this year.

Created in 2007, the Tour of Missouri pits some of the world’s most famous bicyclists against each other as they transverse across the Show Me State. The event was conceived as a way to showcase Missouri to the international audience that enjoys competitive bike racing, which in turn could boost tourism to the state.

While some money for the event comes from private sponsors, other funding comes from the state. Nixon’s administration has sought over the past year to reduce spending in the wake of a tough budgetary situation.

Austerity, Nixon said, was the reason for freezing $1.5 million in state funds that had been allocated to the race. It was a move that race organizers said would have forced a cancellation of this year’s event, which is slated to begin in September.

But there’s more going on behind the battle over the race funding.

The event is a pet project of sorts of Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, a Republican statewide office holder who is widely seen as a potential challenger to Nixon in 2012. One of Kinder’s duties as lieutenant governor is overseeing the state’s tourism commission.

Several people within Kinder’s political circle are involved in the operation of the race. Jerry Dowell, who serves as Kinder’s deputy lieutenant governor, is the executive director of Tour of Missouri Inc. That’s the non-profit corporation that assists in running the event.

While Kinder has promoted the Tour of Missouri as a way to boost tourism and spur economic growth, some Democrats have criticized using state funds to shore up the event’s budget. Sam Page – a Democrat from Creve Coeur who ran against Kinder in last year’s lieutenant governor contest – released an advertisement last year bashing Kinder for “using state job creation money to sponsor his bicycle race that lost millions of taxpayer dollars.”

Kinder has responded to such criticism by pointing to a state-sponsored study that showed the race spurred a roughly $30 million boost in the state’s economy. In a letter posted on the event’s Web site, Kinder said cancelling the event would have devastating consequences.

“We are very close to putting the final touches on the race this year,” Kinder wrote. “Our sponsors have invested, and we are on track with our fundraising goals. Teams from across the world, the same teams now racing in the Tour de France, have been invited to our state, and communities across Missouri are making great preparations for the race.”

After roughly a week of uncertainty, Nixon decided to release the funds. In a statement, Nixon said he made the decision to release the money after he received assurances that Tour of Missouri Inc. had agreed to turn over pertinent documents about how the event’s money is spent.

“Even as my administration continues to tighten its belt, I believe that the 2009 Tour of Missouri should go forward,” Nixon said in his prepared statement. “The race will go on this year, and Missourians deserve to know that state funds for the event are used transparently and accountably. They should know precisely how money for the Tour of Missouri is being spent, and that the event is being run in a way that minimizes the cost to taxpayers.”

In a July conference call with reporters, Kinder said he was “very grateful” at what he called “the extraordinary outpouring of support” for the race to continue. He said this year’s event would prove to doubters why the race should continue into the future.

“We have always operated above the board,” Kinder said. “We have always been transparent – completely transparent – with the state, with cities, with local organizing committees and with the media. This will continue.”

“The only reason we’ve had the success that we’ve had is due to the thousands of you who called and e-mailed Gov. Nixon,” Kinder added.

This year’s event, which is scheduled from September 7 to 13, will roll through St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Cape Girardeau, Farmington, Rolla, St. James, Jefferson City, Sedalia, Chillicothe, St. Joseph and Kansas City.

Columbia – a city known for having a surplus of bicycle enthusiasts – hosted a stop for the inaugural race in 2007. The city was not a host city for the 2008 version of the event.

The city applied to be a part of this year’s race, but it was ultimately not selected. Last year’s race had a state-wide economic impact of $29.8 million, of which $15.6 million was spent by out-of-state tourists.

Columbia’s Convention and Visitors Bureau officials proposed for the tour to start mid-week, so the race would not interfere with MU football weekend games. The Tour of Missouri could not accommodate these needs.