Congressional Candidate Ann Wagner Misses Young Republicans Event

The St. Charles Young Republicans billed the Thursday event as a candidate forum featuring Republicans Ann Wagner and Ed Martin. Both Wagner and Martin are running for Missouri's 2nd District congressional seat.

Wentzville is represented in the 2nd District.

Christian Morgan, a spokesman for Wagner’s campaign, said his staff only learned of the invitation last week. By then it was too late to rework Wagner's schedule, he said.

Morgan added Martin's office got a Facebook notification about the event at Culpeppers in O'Fallon, but Wagner's office had not subscribed to the Facebook feed.

However, Ryan Conway, president of the St. Charles Young Republicans, said Wagner's office had been contacted weeks before and accepted the invitation.

"All I know is that we extended an invitation once, cofirmed it twice (with appropriate staff), and they canceled just a few hours before the event," Conway said.

"I understand that in politics mistakes happen," he said. "I'm not necessarily angry about it. It's unfortunate it happened."

Wagner's husband, Ray Wagner, attended the meeting and apologized that Wagner could not be there due to a scheduling conflict.

Gloves come off

Martin did not mention Wagner in his comments Thursday, but on Friday his campaign Web page did point out her absence:

“For almost a month, a candidate forum between Ed Martin and Ambassador Ann Wagner hosted by the St. Charles Young Republicans has been scheduled. Ed was there to answer questions and talk about why he signed the ‘Cut, Cap, Balance Pledge.’ However, Ambassador Wagner was a no show.”

Morgan said Wagner is “definitely not afraid to appear at an event with Ed.”

“Ann has appeared with Ed Martin 10 times since May, including twice at Young Republican groups in St. Louis County,” Morgan said.

He listed the events in which Wagner appeared with Martin, including the St. Louis Central Committee meeting, the Running on Empty Rally with the K & N Patriots, Americans for Prosperity, and the West County Republican Organization meeting.

Martin’s website quotes Rush James, Martin’s communications director, saying, “What the people really want is accessibility and the opportunity to hold their candidates and elected officials accountable.”

Solo performance

In his comments Thursday, Martin focused on his support for a debt ceiling and his signing the “Cut, Cap, Balance” pledge to cut the budget, cap the country’s debt ceiling and balance the budget.

"Let's try to save the country," Martin said. "Let's try to say, 'We can't go off a cliff.'"

 against Claire McCaskill rather than seek re-election for his seat, opening up the U.S. representative’s 2nd District.