Missouri Secretary of State John (Jay) Ashcroft visited the Worth County Partnership Library Friday to show his support for the state library system and to answer questions about his duties. In attendance were current and former librarians, library board members, and a government class taught by Jeshua Blaine. Ashcroft said that the partnership is still a unique one for the state and he always holds it up as an example of what entities can do when they work together. “It just makes so much sense,” he said.
Among his duties include assisting with elections, regulating securities, corporate registration, overseeing the Wolfner Library (which provides books to people who are blind), and funding the state library system, of which Worth County is a part.
He said he had gotten a lot of questions about the election since 2020 and said that it was a matter of credibility. “I focus on how government can work better,” he said.
Asked about a question between the federal/state divide, Ashcroft said that securities regulation is one area where it can become blurry. “I can regulate securities until the SEC steps in,” he said. Periodically, his office issues news releases regarding fraudulent and/or unregistered securities in the state which promise returns that they can’t deliver. Sometimes, Ashcroft’s office refers matters for criminal prosecution.
Asked about local needs, current librarian Kandi Hughes said that the library needs more money. “We cannot do without the school,” she said. Currently, the library has the second smallest funding level in the state. Ashcroft said that he was pushing for an athlete and entertainer’s tax to be continued along with trying to change rules to allow more flexibility with state funding so libraries can meet their physical needs. He noted that some libraries he visited had leaky roofs. Several years ago, the Maryville Public Library had issues with a leaky roof which cost them a lot of money to fix. Ashcroft said a lot of the problem for the upcoming session is that a lot of people would be running against each other. He said that the current formula, which favors St. Louis, St. Charles, and Kansas City was “silly” and that they were looking at ways to balance it more. He encouraged the library to take advantage of grant opportunities that were available at the state level.
The Partnership Library has been seeking to expand opportunities for people. The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program has been well received, with several kids successfully completing the program. The library has drawn people from Iowa seeking books and resources. They have changed their hours to be open in the mornings on Tuesday and Thursday to accommodate different people. Ashcroft noted that some libraries he visited were beginning to do away with some of their desktop computers, but Hughes noted that there were still people in rural parts of the county who still didn’t have high-speed Internet access.
Ashcroft said that he was a believer in a constitutional republic. He said that the problem with majority rule is that then, minorities are only granted powers which the majority sees fit to give them. He said that there were certain things that majorities should not decide, such as one’s choice of religion or speech.
He is the son of former Governor, Senator, and US Attorney General John Ashcroft. He said that his dad is now 81 years old, doing well, and doesn’t act his age, still climbing up on roofs. An accomplished musician as well, he still relaxes by playing the piano.
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