The left-leaning Kansas City Star is confused about the political affiliation of Steve Baru, who is a candidate for State Senate District 37 against Jeff Colyer in the August Republican primary election. Recently the Star’s Prime Buzz blog asked about Baru: Republican or Democrat: You make the call.
The Star’s confusion isn’t surprising since Baru has run for public office as a Republican, Democrat, and an Independent. In the last two elections cycles Baru has been a “Republican for Moore” in support of Democratic Congressman Dennis Moore, and opposed other Republicans for Congress in earlier years. Has “Republican” Baru ever supported a Republican for Congress? What other political skeletons does Baru have in his political past?
What legal actions have been taken against Baru, and what public censures has Baru received as a financial adviser?
2006: Baru, a “Republican for Moore,” didn’t support Republican Chuck Ahner for Congress.
Ads in local newspapers in 2006 showed Steve Baru’s name on the list of Republicans for Moore:
[Also note above in 2006: Mary Ca Ralstin, a Republican for Moore, is now running for State Board of Ed District 2.]
After the Aug 1, 2006 primary, “Republican” Baru attended Democrat Congressman Moore’s victory party, and nearly came to blows with some protesting Moore that night. According to the LovinRevolution blog:
Some Moore supporters were seemingly divided over the presence of the protesters. …
Shortly after his arrival, Moore supporter Steven Baru of the Sierra Club began a series of verbal and physical assaults on the peaceful assembly. …
David Quinley, a Johnson County resident who recently won a court battle with city officials over anti-war signs in his yard, was holding a sign peacefully by his car when Steven Baru approached him, ripped the sign out of his hands, and tore it up. A skirmish broke out between the two and Overland Park police officers ran to the site and separated the them. They shoved Quinley up against a car and handcuffed him, but did nothing to Baru. …
After questioning, Steve Baru was not detained or cited even though a number of witnesses fingered him as the instigator. He returned to the Dennis Moore event
2004: Baru, a “Republican for Moore,” didn’t support Republican Kris Kobach for Congress.
[Also note above in 2004: Sue Gamble, a Republican for Moore is now running for State Senate District 10, and Mary Ca Ralstin, a Republican for Moore, is now running for State Board of Ed District 2.]
2000: Baru, as a Democratic activist, actively opposed Republican Phill Kline for Congress.
See information below that Baru was a registered Democrat from June 1998 to May 2001.
As a Democrat, and Sierra Club leader, Baru actively opposed Phill Kline for Congress in 2000:
“Sierra Club Backs Moore,” Lawrence Journal-World, Oct 12, 2000.
With television and radio advertisements and distribution of almost 90,000 fliers, the national environmental organization is championing incumbent U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, D-Kan., against his Republican challenger State Rep. Phill Kline.The fliers highlight several votes of each candidate and the perception they leave that Moore is more supportive of clean water, clean air and community growth planning than Kline.
Kline’s press secretary, Chad Bettes, said the flier is unfair. …
The Moore-Kline race was chosen, in part, because polls have shown it to be close, said Steve Baru , president of the Kansas chapter of the Sierra Club.
Baru said the ads specifically target Republican women.
“Republican women are very concerned about family health and public health,” Baru said. “We believe we have a big appeal to women.”
Bettes said Moore’s party had more to do with the endorsement than anything.
“I think what you’ll see is that this is a highly partisan organization,” he said. “They are carrying water for the Democratic Party.”
Sierra Club efforts on behalf of Moore constitute what is termed “soft money,” in which campaigning is done by an outside party on behalf of a particular candidate.
1998: Baru, as a Democratic activist, actively opposed Republican Vince Snowbarger for Congress.
See information below that Baru was a registered Democrat from June 1998 to May 2001.
As a Democrat, and Sierra Club leader, Baru actively opposed Vince Snowbarger for Congress in 1998:
“Sierra Club to campaign against Vince Snowbarger Kanza chapter plans to spend at least $65,000 on advertising,” Kansas City Star, October 10, 1998.
Democrat Dennis Moore has the Sierra Club’s “green seal of approval,” but that’s not all. The environmental group is following up with greenbacks.
The Kanza chapter of the Sierra Club plans to spend at least $65,000 this month on an independent campaign to defeat U.S. Rep.
Vince Snowbarger, an Olathe Republican who is Moore’s opponent in the Nov. 3 election.
“When it comes to the environment, Snowbarger stinks,” said Steve Baru of Overland Park, the club’s campaign chairman. …
The environmental group’s campaign will include phone banks, direct mail, literature drops, radio ads and the efforts of a lot of volunteers, said Mary Jacobi, who was paid to manage the effort. Baru said the club also was trying to secure money for television ads.
In addition to his efforts to support Democratic Congressman Dennis Moore against all Republican challengers, Baru has been involved in other political activities, before is 1995 bid for public election.
Baru’s 1994 political skeleton.
As early as 1995 Baru made several unsuccessful bids for public election, but the year before Baru was caught red-handed stealing political signs in Overland Park:
“Gilmore reports theft of her campaign signs,” Kansas City Star, August 3, 1994.
Someone stole Phyllis Gilmore ’s campaign signs, and she doesn’t think the crime was just kid stuff.The problem began last Thursday morning when Gilmore , who was running for the 27th District Kansas House seat, discovered that more than 500 signs were nabbed. Many others were thrown into ditches or ripped apart, Gilmore said. The damages totaled $2,500.
Gilmore filed a complaint with the Overland Park Police Department Thursday. Later, two witnesses told her they saw a man in his 40s taking the signs. One witness asked the man for the signs he removed, but he refused to hand them over, saying he represented the landowners who didn’t want the signs posted.
But Gilmore said she already had received permission from the landowners to place her signs there.
Overland Park Police Detective Bobbi Hohnholt said the department is investigating Gilmore ’s loss as a misdemeanor theft.
“We probably have lost half of our signage,” Gilmore said. “And I think we’re estimating conservatively. ” … Destroying political signs is playing dirty, she said.
In a phone conversation on Saturday with former State Rep Phyllis Gilmore, she identified Steve Baru as the “man in his 40s” described in the article above, who was helping Matt Grogger. [Baru would have been 41in 1994.] Gilmore says she now regrets not taking legal action against Baru’s misdemeanor theft since he’s never been held accountable for “playing dirty” in 1994.
Baru’s political campaign runs.
1995: Baru ran for Board of Water District No. 1 of Johnson County. Lost.
“Three water board incumbents lose,” Kansas City Star, April 5, 1995.
In a stunning upset, three incumbents on the board of Water District No. 1 of Johnson County were defeated Tuesday, leaving the majority of the board to newcomers.… In position 2, Robert S. Olson defeated board Chairman Terrence D. Frederick, 38 percent to 37 percent. Steven L. Baru received 26 percent.
1996: Baru endorsed by GOP Club for Republican precinct committee. [Need to confirm loss.]
1997: Baru ran as an independent for Overland Park City Council. Lost.
“Baru vying for OP seat,” Kansas City Star, January 22, 1997.
Baru , 43, is a stockbroker and financial planner and is running as an independent, or unaffiliated, candidate. Others vying for a Ward 4 seat are Councilman Greg Musil, Republican, and Joan Rowland, who like Baru , is running as an independent.
Although Baru said he’s been a member of the Republican Party in the past, he is running as an unaffiliated candidate. Baru said city government is more responsive to its constituents without partisan politics.
Results from the Johnson County Election Office:
OVERLAND PARK COUNCIL WARD 4
STEVE BARU Independent Nomination 386 12.1%
GREG L. MUSIL Republican 2162 67.9%
JOAN K. ROWLAND Independent Nomination 633 19.8%
2000: Baru ran unopposed for Democratic Party Precinct Committeeeman in Overland Park Ward 4, Precinct 8. Unopposed Baru received 25 votes. Won (unopposed).
2002: As a Republican, Baru ran for State Rep 49 against Scott Schwab. Lost.
Does anyone find Baru’s explanation of party switching believable?
“Candidate held Democratic post while Republican at heart,” Kansas City Star, July 20, 2002 .
Throughout his campaign in the 49th Kansas House District, candidate Steve Baru has acknowledged leaving the Republican Party several years ago and becoming a Democrat for a year.But his opponent, Scott Schwab, said Baru ’s Democratic affiliation actually was about three years.
County records show Baru was registered as a Democrat from June 1998 to May 2001. But he said although he did not change his registration until 2001, his loyalty to the Democratic Party ended in 1999, one year after joining the party.
Despite that explanation, Baru still admitted accepting a Democratic position as precinct committeeman for ward 4, precinct 8, in 2000.
“I’m willing to say that, yes, I was a Democrat,” Baru said. “But I am a Republican and I have been a Republican for a lot of years.”
Baru said he became precinct committeeman even after he had switched his loyalty back to the Republican Party because he enjoys participating in the political process and thought it would help bring in money to the local Democratic Party from the party’s national level.
Doug Stone, who was chair of the Johnson County Democratic Party when Baru became a precinct committeeman, said whether Baru was a Democrat or Republican should not distract voters from the issues Baru supports.
“I think of Steve as someone who is interested in the political process and had a desire to see issues promoted,” Stone said. “Steve I think is more of a policy person than a party person.” …
The left-leaning Star in 2002 endorsed Baru.
Results from Johnson County Election Office:
STATE REPRESENTATIVE 49TH DISTRICT – REPUBLICAN R
STEVE BARU R 1160 41.94%
SCOTT SCHWAB R 1606 58.06%
2008: As a Republican, Steve Baru is challenging Jeff Colyer for State Senate 37.
Financial Matters
Baru is a stockbroker with Baru Investment Group at his home address. Baru has an MBA and is a financial adviser.
The FINRA BrokerCheck report gives investors the professional background of securities firms and brokers. [BrokerCheck does not allow me to publish the full report about Baru online. The report will be published here when permission is granted.]
Several items in Baru’s report are troubling, including two disclosures for regulatory events, two customer disputes and a termination.
- On 12/8/1989 the Kansas Securities Commissioner censured and suspended Baru’s license for three months. “Baru, in hs own hand, signed two cutomers’ signatures … without the customers’ knowledge or consent.”
- On 12/13/1990 Baru was “Permitted to Resign” for “forging two customer signatures…”
- On 9/29/1992 the National Association of Securities Dealers initiated an action against Baru when he worked at Paine Webber. Baru was censured and fined $1000. “Baru forged the names of public customers”.
- ON 12/11/1996 there was a broker complaint about Baru. “Customer Alleged that RR completed transactions without authorization.” All disputed transactions were returned to the status prior to customer complaint. Paine Webber offered … [$52,000] … to settle these matters.”
Law Suit about Financial Matter
Case moved from Missouri Courts to Kansas Courts for collection of the $10,000 settlement:
Link to Johnson County, Kansas Court Search
Other Political Activities.
- Vice Chair with Jim Borthwick of MAIN*PAC (MAINstream Political Action Committee) 2006
- MAINstream Coalition Board Member according to their 2006 IRS 990.
- Kansas Sierra Club Leaders
- Multiple “hats” with the Sierra Club: Steve Baru – Regional Vice President, Chair Northern Plains Regional, Conservation Committee, Vice Chair Council of Club Leaders, Organizational Effectiveness, Governance Committee, Presidential/ Congressional, Environmental Voter Education, Steering Committee, Sierra Club Mutual Funds, Investment Committee
- Planned Parenthood (PPFA) gave $100 to Baru for State Rep in 2002.
Notes on Senate 37 bid in 2008.
Not only has Baru switch parties, but his Treasuer, Connie Chapman, and her husband, have only been registered to vote in Kansas since July 2006. Since early this year, she and her husband have both re-registered as Republicans.
Baru’s Endorsements by Liberals groups:
- MAINstream Coalition MAIN*PAC endorsement
- Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus
- Kansas National Education Association
- Kansas Families for Education PAC
Steve Rose’s Overland Park Sun endorsement should also be included here since the Sun is more a liberal group than a newspaper:
STATE SENATE 37th DISTRICT: Steve Baru, a longtime Sierra Club activist, doesn’t stand a snowball’s chance, even in global warming, of beating his Republican opponent, Jeff Colyer, a current state representative and darling of the right. But we have to give Baru credit for his guts. More than that, we give him our endorsement for one main reason. He would continue the fight against the proposed polluting coal-fired plants of western Kansas that promise to make our planet just a bit less habitable.
When will Steve Baru quit pretending he’s a Republican and register as a Democrat?
See the League of Women Voters-JCCC Candidate Forum with Baru and Colyer.
Related:
- “Republican for Moore” Running for Kansas Senate as a Republican, Kansas Meadowlark, June 11, 2008.
- Republicans For Moore — the last five election cycles, Kansas Meadowlark, Feb 28, 2007.
Tags: Jeff Colyer, Kansas Senate 37, Republicans for Moore, Steve Baru
