JEFFERSON CITY, MO. (AP) — Former Kansas City Councilwoman and mayoral candidate Alissia Canady is running for lieutenant governor in Missouri.
Canady, who filed Monday for the seat, finished third in the mayoral primary last year behind then-Councilwoman Jolie Justus and now-Mayor Quinton Lucas despite racing less money than many of the other candidates in the 11-person race.
Canady, 40, told KCUR last month she had been approached for statewide office and was “open to the idea.”
“I’m excited and flattered as well, but it has to make sense for me,” said Canday who also has worked as a private attorney and assistant county prosecutor.
During her time on the city council, she took a strong stance against re-naming Paseo Boulevard to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., saying the council bypassed citizen’s rights by pushing the name-change through without consulting residents along the street. After her loss in the mayoral election, she helped organize a group that successfully petitioned to change the name back to The Paseo.
In Missouri, the lieutenant governor runs on a separate ticket from the governor. The only other Democratic nominee to file so far is Gregory Upchurch of St. Charles.