From Staff Reports
Marjorie Rushin of Poplar Bluff, Mo., the winner of the 8th District MFWDC Woman of the Year Award, will vie for the state title June 2 in Jefferson City.
Rushin was presented the district honor during the 8th District Missouri Federation of Women's Democratic Club's annual spring convention recently at the Poplar Bluff Holiday Inn.
"I was born into a family of Democrats," Rushin said. "I have never strayed from the Democratic Party and its values.
"I am a staunch, loyal Democrat. My blood bleeds blue. I am humbled and honored to be a candidate for Women of the Year," she said. "I want to thank the Butler County Women's Democratic Club for nominating me. I treasure their friendship and their confidence in me."
Rushin said, "I have been to Jefferson City to march for Gay Rights, Missouri Medicaid Expansion and women's rights. I have enjoyed picketing the local offices of Sen. Roy Blunt and Rep. Jason Smith on various pertinent issues.
"On a regular basis I make calls to elected officials on important issues. Other events I have attended are the Jefferson-Jackson dinner in St. Louis and Harry Truman Day at Busch Stadium."
The youngest in a family of eight children, Rushin recalls, as a newly divorced mother of three she was searching for a way to support her family of three when the Democratic Club of Jackson, Missouri, asked if she was interested in reviving the failing Department of Revenue. Revenue was down, and the closest office was in Cape Girardeau.
"With the support and encouragement of the Democratic Party, I applied for the appointment and was appointed by Joe Teasdale in 1972," Rushin said. "This was the beginning of my career as an independent woman raising three children."
Rushin has been chaplain of MFWDC and the 8th Congressional Democratic Women's District and has served on the executive board for three years. She chaired the 2014 8th Congressional Spring Convention.
She also participated in the Dancing with the Democratic Stars in 2014, 2015 and 2017. In 2014, she was the second highest fundraiser for the competition. She performed with three others at the convention imitating Tina Turner's "Proud Mary." At the 2017 Spring Convention, she danced and sang Be My Baby with two others imitating the Ronettes.
Rushin has worked on the campaigns of Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, as well as state candidates: Rushin for Congress, Chris Koster, Claire McCaskill, Jason Kander, Rep. Steve Hodges and Tommy Sowers and local Democratic candidates Van Rhodes and Johnson. She worked the 2017 Iron Horse event helping to register new voters and the 2012 and 2017 Women Aware conferences.
Rushin has decorated 15 years for the Truman Day Rally held annually in Poplar Bluff, and she encourages new people to attend.
"I search out young people, invite them to meetings and events,"she said. "I know young people sometimes don't have the money to join clubs or attend events so I pay for memberships and meal tickets. My goal is to bring new people, young and old, into the Democratic Party."
She is an active member of the SEMO Rural Caucus, Main Street Missouri and the SEMO Rally.
The 8th District Missouri Federation of Women's Democratic Club's annual Spring Convention's theme was "Boot Scootin' Blue" and was a fundraiser featuring "Dancing with the Democratic Stars." The contest was won by the Rev. Mike Davis of Cape Girardeau and Tammy Hilderbrand of Ripley County waltzing to the music of "Edelweiss." Chuck Banks of Wayne County and Barbara Stocker of Jefferson County won the People's Choice Award. Saturday was the business meeting and the announcement of the winner of the 8th District MFWDC Woman of the Year Award.