Political Career
In 1992 Kinder made his first bid for public office, winning election to a seat in the Missouri State Senate representing Cape Girardeau and surrounding counties by defeating former Missouri First Lady and gubernatorial candidate Betty C. Hearnes (D). Kinder was reelected to the Senate in 1996 and 2000. When the Republicans gained a majority in the Missouri Senate for the first time in over 50 years, following a round of special elections in February 2001, Kinder was voted President Pro Tempore, the top official in the Missouri Senate. Kinder was the first Republican President Pro Tem in the Missouri Senate in 53 years. In 2004 he sought and won election as Missouri's Lieutenant Governor, defeating Bekki Cook (D-Cape Girardeau).
As a member of the Missouri Tourism Commission, Lt. Governor Kinder helped establish the Tour of Missouri, an international professional bicycle race, and served as its Chairman. The week long (6 days in 2007), 600+ mile event first took place in 2007, with Lt. Governor Kinder as its chairman. The race was extended to seven days for 2008 and 2009. The race ran annually from 2007 to 2009 and was the third highest profile domestic race in the United States. The Tour of Missouri was one of the top stage races outside of Europe and brought in athletes from over 20 countries. During its three year run, the race attracted an estimated 1.2 million spectators and created a direct economic impact of $80 million. The Tour of Missouri was cancelled from 2010 onward by Governor Jay Nixon.
Kinder was reelected as Lieutenant Governor in November 2008. As lieutenant governor, Kinder is Missouri's official senior advocate. He also is leading a lawsuit by Missouri citizens against the federal healthcare law. Kinder's lawsuit seeks to have the individual mandate declared unconstitutional. On August 4, 2010, Missouri voters passed Proposition C, rejecting the federal law's mandate to purchase health insurance, by 71%.
Kinder has been honored by various groups including: Missouri Right to Life with the Defender of Life Award; National Rifle Association's A+ rating; University of Missouri, Presidential Citation Award; National Scouting Association Distinguished Eagle Scout Award; St. Louis Children's Hospital, SSM Cardinal Glennon Hospital, and Children's Mercy of K.C.; March of Dimes; Creve Coeur Olivette Chamber of Commerce, Legislator of the Year; Southeast Missouri State University Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award; St. Louis Business Journal Legislative Award; Support Your Troops Committee Award; Missouri Farm Bureau Outstanding Service to Agriculture; St. Louis Regional Commerce and Growth Association Lewis and Clark Statesman Award for Outstanding Leadership; Missouri Restaurant Association Distinguished Service; Associated Industries of Missouri Voice of Missouri Business; Southeast Missouri Alliance for Disability Independence; SSM Cardinal Glennon Hospital Child Advocate Award; National Federation of Independent Businesses Guardian of Small Business; Missouri State Medical Association; and Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry Spirit of Enterprise.
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