Friday, September 26, 2014
Stenger Ad
Here’s Steve Stenger’s opening advertisement in St. Louis County Executive race.
“I’m Steve Stenger. What happened in Ferguson was a tragedy for all of us. And my heart goes out to the family of Michael Brown. As a member of this community I am deeply troubled by the way we’ve been torn apart. We can, and we will, do better. One day at a time, one person at a time, we need to build trust in each other. We cannot let our community remain divided. That will be my mission as county executive.”
eMailbag on County Exec Race
I have this feeling that the county exec race could end up turning out lots of angry white people and maybe even get Rs to vote D if they think Stream would be too soft on Ferguson protestors or something. Just one of my weird analysis and I am usually wrong but something to consider.
And
Latest polling rumor has Steve Stenger leading by 9, a bit more competitive than the rumor from yesterday…
BOOM: Farm Bureau Joins Teachers
The teachers unions have lassoed a new ally in their campaign to destroy the teacher tenure proposal at the ballot box in November. The Farm Bureau came out against the initiative yesterday. See their statement here. “We have had many of our members – parents, teachers, school board members – express their concerns with some of the far-reaching and not well-thought-out provisions in Amendment #3. With the proponents having withdrawn their support for the Amendment #3, hopefully Missouri voters will understand this amendment has flaws and will vote “No” on election day.”
This is one more step in a possible real stomping of the issue.
McCaskill for AG!
From the Post-Dispatch… Read it here…“Speculation has begun on who will replace Attorney General Eric Holder, and Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., is on one list.” Crank up the rumor-mill folks…. McCaskill to AG, and Governor Jay Nixon appoints Clint Zweifel to the Senate. Who’s with me?
Blunt on DC
An interesting snippet of an interview with US Senator Roy Blunt on the NYTimes website. He dissects what he says is wrong with the process in the US Senate right now. Only two minutes long. See it here.
MOChamber Endorses Republicans + English
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce released their endorsements for the upcoming elections. See it here. Perhaps I’m mistaken, but in eyeballing the list it looks like entirely Republicans with the addition of Rep. Keith English. English was the critical Democratic defection in overriding the governor’s tax cut veto.
Auto Muscle
Missouri’s getting a lot of momentum in its employment in the automobile segment lately. Just two weeks ago GM added a third shift and 750 jobs in Wentzville. Now here’s yesterday’s announcement: “Gov. Jay Nixon today joined Ford Motor Company executives, UAW leaders and local autoworkers at the company's Kansas City Assembly Plant to announce 1,200 new jobs and a second shift to build the all-new Ford Transit van, previously manufactured exclusively overseas… With this second shift of the Transit, the Kansas City Assembly plant will have more capacity to build vehicles than any other Ford plant in the world… The 1,200 new jobs are in addition to the 2,800 jobs added at Kansas City Assembly Plant in 2012 and 2013 as part of a $1.1 billion investment in the facility that included an upgrade of the facility's body shop, paint shop and final assembly; construction of a new, integrated Stamping Plant; and a third crew of F-150 production…”
Florida Loves Labor
From the St. Louis City Recorder of Deeds battle comes this Jennifer Florida email attacking her opponent, Sharon Carpenter…
Dear friend,
Did you know . . . ?
FACT ONE: During her tenure as Recorder of Deeds, Sharon Carpenter awarded $300,000 in renovation contracts to non-signatory companies. Sharon Carpenter awarded $300,000 in renovation contracts to two companies that are not signatory to any of the unions affiliated with the Building & Construction Trades Council. Sharon Carpenter personally pushed for non-signatory companies to bid on extensive renovation projects in her office. Both non-signatory companies hired by Sharon Carpenter employed the son of Carpenter’s longtime top aide…
As Recorder of Deeds, Jennifer will continue to support her friends in the labor community. Jennifer believes that organized labor is a critical partner in making St. Louis a great city. She had your back as Alderwoman, and will have your back as the Recorder of Deeds. Please stand with Jennifer today and forward this email to all of our mutual friends in the labor community….
Lant’s Trivia
Progress Missouri’s Sean Nicholson found this nugget at the end of Rep. Bill Lant’s latest update to constituents…
I'm going to close this by sharing a bit of trivia with you. We are hearing daily about the terrorists sweeping across Iraq. They are being referred to as ISIS and also ISIL. These are NOT synonymous acronyms. ISIS stands for the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria". ISIL stands for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant". The Levant is the land bridge from Turkey to Egypt and includes all territory from Iran to Egypt. Therefore, anyone who refers to ISIL is denying that the State of Israel exists! Everywhere in the civilized world they are referred to as ISIS except the official spokespersons of the United States! Read it here.
Help Wanted
MO Soybean is hiring…
Director of Accounting
General Responsibilities: Under the direction of the Executive Director/CEO, the Director of Accounting is responsible for the overall accounting of the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, Missouri Soybean Association and the Mid-America Research Development Foundation. Responsible for the day-to-day accounting, transactions, accounting procedures /operations and financial reporting. Oversee the daily accounting activities required to maintain all organizations general ledger. Directs and coordinates the daily activities of the Accounting Manager.
Director, Business Development
General Responsibilities: Under the direction of the Executive Director/CEO, the Director, Business & Market Development is responsible for the budget and implementation of the market and business development programming goals of the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council (MSMC), Missouri Soybean Association (MSA), Mid-America Research Development Foundation (MRDF), United Soybean Board (USB), United States Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and American Soybean Association (ASA). This individual will be responsible for domestic and international market development efforts, existing markets, new markets, new uses and trends, organizations’ variety and germ plasm inventory, technology transfer programs and serve as liaison to partner institutions.
eMailbag: Reader’s Son vs Paid Political Consultants
I asked my son - who is pretty conservative but open minded on a lot of stuff – what he thought of Republican candidates who try to tie their opponent to Obama. He said it makes him think that they can't find anything else to use to criticize so they must not be that bad. It will be interesting to see what Wieland and Ashcroft do – if they play the Obama card…
Fundraising Calendar
Today’s fundraising events from Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:
Rep. Kevin Engler Golf – St. Francois Country Club, Farmington.
Saturday: Reps. Bob Burns, Mike Frame, Michele Kratky, TJ McKenna & Jeff Roorda – IBEW Local 1, St. Louis – 5-8 p.m.
Lobbyist Registrations
From the Gate Way Group website:
Daryl D. Duwe added St. Louis Apartment Association.
David J. Klarich added Family Covenant Ministries, and deleted Cory Kraft.
$5K+ Contributions
Property Casualty Insurers Association of America Political Account - $15,898 from Property Casualty Insurers Association of America Political Account.
Supporters of Health Research and Treatments - $24,900 from Sam Fox.
Citizens for Steve Stenger - $8,100 from Professional Fire Fighters of Eastern Missouri Local 2665 PAC.
Citizens for Steven Stenger - $25,000 from Clayco.
Friends of Rick Stream - $15,000 from David Spence.
Happy Birthday
Happy birthdays to Rep. Penny Hubbard (61), Mike Reid (68), House 18 candidate Lauren Arthur (27), and former Rep. Walt Bivins (75).
Saturday: The singular Richard Moore (37), Paul Wagner (45), and House 114 candidate Becky Ruth (the big 5-0).
Sunday: Rep Scott Fitzpatrick (27), Cindy McGee, former Reps. Michael Brown (53), and Nathan Cooper (41), and Tea Party diva Dana Loesch.
MOScout To Go Seven Days a Week
Starting tomorrow, I will debut a new weekly feature… the Saturday Morning Rummage. As the name indicates it will be mostly junk. However I think readers may find a few gems from time to time. It will start relatively “thin,” but assuming things go as planned (famous last words), it will grow in the coming months. I think it will eventually become one of the more popular days of Missouri Scout coverage. We’ll see… As always, feedback is loved appreciated.
As a result what has been the “Saturday Evening Post” is moving to Sunday morning. There will be some weeks off, but most Sundays – right around church time – look for the exclusive poll to hit the in-boxes. Then the crosstabs will go into the Special Report section by Monday morning.