MOScout Daily Update: SpreadsheetGate Day 2 - STL County Exec Race Talk - Digital Strategies - DEDCF RFP and more...
SpreadsheetGate: Day Two
Kansas City Star: [O]n Wednesday medical professionals expressed puzzlement and outrage about the practice, asserting that it served no legitimate purpose. OBGYN Jennifer Villavicencio, a fellow with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said what the state did “defies both logic and ethics” and called it “skin-crawling.”
“I think without the patient’s knowledge that their information was being collected, the fact that it was being collected through an inspector and there was no form the patients signed for release of their information truly defies every practice that I have ever been taught about privacy for patients. From an ethical standpoint, it’s frankly bonkers.”
“This whole thing is just a perfect example of how terrible it is when politicians try to practice medicine. And that’s what they’re trying to do,” said Mark Finkelston, an OBGYN for nearly 40 years in Johnson County…
eMailbag: Blame Greitens
Sen Arthur’s description of Dr Williams spreadsheet as “creepy” matches the description often used to describe the person who appointed him, but far from the person who now employs him.
But
It’s Parson’s mess now to deal with.
The Suddenly Interesting STL County Exec Race
The entrance of St. Louis County Assessor Jake Zimmerman has ignited a lot of talk about other potential candidates jumping in. We’ll see who and when that happens, but here’s the talk…
First, Mark Mantovani. A few folks think he’ll be a candidate ultimately. The talk is that his appointment to the Board of Freeholder by St. Louis County Executive Sam Page did little to placate him. Mantovani self-funded last time, and he could do it again.
If Mantovani jumps, one Democratic observer sees a recipe for a free-for-all. Three white men in a Democratic primary would be an enticing demographic invitation for a woman or an African American to enter.
Possible candidates…
· Sen. Brian Williams makes the top of the list.
· Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal was mentioned by one lobbyist.
· And Rep. Gina Mitten, mentioned by another lobbyist.
Also
This is all talk about the Democratic primary. There’s no talk about Republicans making a run at this. And one reader opines that St. Louis County is now firmly beyond the reach of the GOP. “Republicans had perfect storms – Republican tsunamis nationally, and/or great opportunities locally due to Dem vulnerability and infighting – in '10 and '14. Each cycle they had strong candidates who couldn't quite get over the top. That they couldn't even field a real candidate in ''18 despite running against an incumbent who was so damaged that he nearly lost his primary to a known Republican shows that they've basically ceded Countywide races, cognizant of the fact that the County gets a point or two worse for them every cycle due to relocation and generational replacement.”
The Future of Campaigns in Digital?
I was intrigued by a recent New York Times article about various presidential campaigns adoption of digital tactics. I spoke to seven different consultants in Missouri about how they’re integrating web and online communications into their campaigns.
Interestingly, there were no common themes, no conventional wisdom which has been established yet about the use of digital medias in campaigns. And yet each one seems to have devoted a fair amount of time and consideration to the issue.
Here’s a sampling of their insights…
· Every serious campaign of size now has a person dedicated to social media. It’s become a legit staff position, just like every campaign has a media buyer.
· One operative uses digital ads early in a campaign, largely for email acquisition. You build the email list early and you “drip” or “slow burn” your base.
· Another finds digital useful at the end of a campaign to target demographic group.
· Several mentioned the use of Trump and impeachment as an issue that can quickly incite online audiences and generate great click-throughs – aiding email acquisition efforts.
· The labor that goes into social media and digital ads is greater than traditional media. Keeping up on the various channels and having to create new current ads on a weekly, or daily, or hourly basis is time intensive.
· One consultant uses digital ads for pumping up the base, and other more traditional venues – TV, radio, mail – for persuasion.
· The big picture of this transformation (from TV and toward digital) is really the increasing fragmentation of the audience (voter base). It started with cable and now online media are continuing the trend.
· One operative thinks that it’s important not to let the micro-targeting phenomenon get in the way of the big “story-telling.” Earned media and the big narrative still instill voters’ understanding of candidates and drive their decision.
DED Seeks Policies for Closing Fund
A new RFP has been issued, seeking policies for the Department of Economic Development’s new closing fund. See it here.
The contractor shall provide financial and risk analysis policies and procedures for potential applicants for the Department of Economic Development Missouri Works Deal Closing Fund (DCF) to ensure applicants’ ability to meet financial guarantee and claw back requirements, in accordance with the provisions and requirements stated herein.
The contractor’s recommended policies and procedures must ensure that program requirements on financial guarantees and claw backs strike a proper balance to protect taxpayers’ interests while not putting undue hardship on applicants.
Next Session Watch: Child Custody Laws
It appears that there may be a push to change child custody laws next session.
The movement afoot on the grassroots side… National Parents Organization's Missouri Chair Linda Reutzel recently hosted a showing of Erasing Family.
One advocate says, “a simple change in law that starts with the premise that in the case of divorce, parenting should be 50-50 with a rebuttable presumption, would create less acrimony between parents, costs families less, and reduce the burden of what has become a $4 billion a year industry. That's right. Divorce is an industry, and children are the collateral damage... People with less disposable income are typically hit the hardest, as some of it comes down to the best lawyer you can hire.”
Look for Sen. Wayne Wallingford and Rep. Kathy Swan to re-file their bill again next session.
Gubby Appts
Governor Mike Parson appointed Greta Bax, Stephanie Garrett, and Catherine Bass Black to the Missouri Workforce Development Board; Jane Anne Emerson, Betty Jean Sisco, and Eric Hart to the Missouri Brain Injury Advisory Council; Darla Wierzbicki to the Clay County Board of Election Commissioners; and Samuel Murphy as the Shannon County Coroner.
New Committees
#Northcountyexcellence was formed. It’s a PAC. Its treasurer is Terrill Willis.
$5K+ Contributions
Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors Missouri RPAC - $26,267 from Missouri Realtors PAC, Inc.
MO Cattlemens Association PAC - $9,000 from Missouri Corn Growers Association.
Committee for Liberty - $50,000 from August A Busch III.
Lobbyists Registrations
Jeffrey Aboussie added City of St. Louis DBA Fly314 Coalition.
Heath Clarkston, Doug Nelson, and Kurt Schaefer added MCM Company Inc.
Sam Wiles deleted John Bardgett & Associates.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Paul Quinn.