MOScout Daily Update: New Galloway Campaign Manager - Human Agency Poll: GOP Leads - Merideth Shakes Fist at Schmitt - Watching $$$ in Senate 25 and more...

New Galloway Campaign Manager

The latest email fundraising blast from Nicole Galloway has an “introduction” from her new campaign manager…

My name is Chris Sloan and I am Nicole Galloway’s Campaign Manager. I wanted to introduce myself and tell you a little bit about my background…

Most recently I was the Campaign Manager on Steve Sisolak’s race in Nevada — where we elected the first Democrat as Governor in 22 years.

I know how to win in a tough state. I’ve done it before and I’m going to do it again here in Missouri. We are going to build a grassroots campaign that will empower communities across Missouri to take back Jefferson City.

What It Means

MOScouter: Top Dem Gov CM in the nation.  This is how serious national groups view [the race].

MOScout/Human Agency Poll: GOP Leads in MO

The latest MOScout/Human Agency poll shows very similar results to the MOScout/Remington poll last week: solid Republican leads across all the statewide races.  Conducted October 18-20, 550 respondents, Margin of Error +/-4%.  See the full results here.

Q: In the next 12 months do you expect your personal finances to be:

Much better - 7.1%

Somewhat better - 21.6%

About the same - 57.5%

Somewhat worse - 12.2%

Much worse - 1.6%

Q: Do you approve of the job Donald Trump is doing as President?

Approve - 58.9%

Disapprove - 40.3%

Not sure - 0.8%

Q: If the 2020 election for Governor of Missouri were held today, who would you vote for?

Nicole Galloway (D) - 34.3%

Mike Parson (R) - 50.1%

Not sure - 15.5%

Q: If the 2020 election for Missouri State Treasurer were held today, who would

you vote for?

Vicki Englund (D) - 31.6%

Scott Fitzpatrick (R) - 46.2%

Not sure - 22.3%

Q: If the 2020 election for Missouri State Secretary of State were held today, who would

you vote for?

Yinka Faleti (D) - 29.9%

Jay Ashcroft (R) - 51.3%

Not sure - 18.8%

Senate 25 Money Race Draws Attention

The Republican primary to replace Sen. Doug Libla is heating up.  And there’s more attention being paid to fundraising and outside groups.

·         One reader draws a distinction between CL PAC and the Conservative Caucus, noting that CL PAC has given both Rep. Jeff Shawan, and Eddy Justice $5K checks.  With CL PAC having hundreds of thousands of dollars on-hand, its apparent ambivalence on the race is a positive for Shawan as it perhaps limits impact of the Conservative Caucus.

·         But one Conservative Caucus member says it’s an error too dismiss their financial strength as entirely based on David Steward and CL PAC, calculating that “outside of CLPAC, CC candidate committees and PACs have $1.6 million on hand… it's more than enough to run Koenig's re-elect and involve the CC in other primaries…. there is roughly as much $$ in CC committees and PACs (plus CLPAC) as all other current Republican Senate entities combined...including the MSCC PAC.”

·         And this person describes the Conservative Caucus’ position on the race as “heavily” in favor of Justice.

·         Meanwhile I’m told that “Shawan and his wife will make another investment in his campaign this quarter which will put his COH more than $100,000 ahead of his nearest rivals.”

·         However Justice isn’t sitting on his hand either.  He has a November 7 fundy slated at the home of Ron Black with CC members Cindy O’Laughlin, Bill Eigel and Bob Onder as special guests.

Over in Senate 27

In Senate 27, one tipster says that Rep. Kathy Swan “had a monster fundraiser in Cape Girardeau Friday night. More than 100 people (including Sen. Wayne Wallingford, and former Rep. Donna Lichtenegger) attended her event at John Drury's House…”

Merideth Shakes Fist

On Facebook, Rep. Peter Merideth recounts his struggles to get the attorney general’s office to give him an opinion on how the sunshine law applies to legislators…

Today, I received another call from the Missouri Attorney General’s office regarding my request for an opinion, in response to my latest email to his office (my very long email in the first comment below). This time I spoke with three attorneys from his office. They are continuing to refuse to give an opinion, claiming they don’t have to give opinions to individual lawmakers, despite a statute and overwhelming precedent for giving such opinions…. Sure would be nice to have an AG that takes his role as legal counsel to the state seriously.

MO Deregulation or Faux Deregulation?

On Twitter, Governor Mike Parson crows that “Here in Missouri, we recently completed the state’s largest deregulation effort, eliminating nearly 1 out of every 5 state regulations…”

This sounds a lot like the faux deregulation started under Eric Greitens I wrote about two years ago.  In that initiative the word “shall” was changed to “will” and considered deregulation because “shall” is a “restrictive” word.  Utter nonsense that had no impact on the regulatory environment.

Andy Blunt, Marathoner

On Twitter, Rich Chrismer congratulates lobbyist Andy Blunt for completing the Amsterdam Marathon over the weekend.  See it here.  “Friends got him back into running after a long absence.”

And

Mike Cierpiot, curler. See it here.

Help Wanted

Polsinelli seeks Public Policy / Legislative Director.  “Polsinelli, a top AmLaw 100 national law firm, has an immediate need for a highly-qualified and motivated Legislative Director in our Public Policy practice in our Jefferson City, MO office. Interested candidates must possess strong writing and communication skills, the ability to organize a variety of ongoing projects and work independently after receiving direction. Responsibilities will include interacting with clients and government officials on a full range of public policy issues; drafting client correspondence; and monitoring and reporting on hearings and legislation. Bachelor’s degree is required. Experience with Missouri public policy, PAC administration and communications preferred.  We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package with challenging work in a collegial work environment. Relocation support is available for highly qualified candidates. Qualified applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and writing sample via polsinelli.com directed to Cristy M. Johnson, Director of Firm-Wide Legal Recruiting.”

New Committees

Maryann Welch formed a candidate committee (Welch for Missouri) to run for House 37 as a Democrat.   The current incumbent, Rep. Joe Runions, is termed.

William Perry formed a candidate committee (Will Perry For State Rep) to run for House 148 as a Republican.  The current incumbent, Rep. Holly Rehder, is termed.

Michael Steinmeyer formed a candidate committee (Mike Steinmeyer For A Better Independence) to run for Independence Council Person.

Lobbyist Registrations

John Gaskin added Flotron & McIntosh.

John Bardgett, Jacqueline Bardgett, Ericka Leonard, Chris Roepe, and John Parris added Guard911.

Jacqueline Bardgett, Ericka Leonard, and John Parris added Insurance Auto Auctions.

Jason Zamkus added Tria Health.

Mark Francis Brady, Rodney Gray, Tami Holliday, Roxsen Koch, and Susan Henderson Moore deleted Tower International.

$5K+ Contributions

Uniting Missouri PAC - $10,000 from United Health Group Inc.

Uniting Missouri PAC - $24,700 from Prime Inc.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Sen. Caleb Rowden, Rep. Rocky Miller, Kathy Licklider, and Chris Kelly.