MOScout Daily Update: Sifton for Senate? - Emery Skeptical on Vax - Roeber Engaged - What's Next for Haahr and more...

Sifton for Senate?

I asked around about potential Democrats to take on Republican Senator Roy Blunt in 2022.  Given the crushing electoral defeat Dems suffered last month, and their super minority position in the legislature, it’s probably no surprise that there’s scarcely any names being floated.

The one I did hear repeatedly was Sen. Scott Sifton.

I’m told he’s begun to explore the possibility.  One insider said that if Sifton pulled the trigger and decided relatively early, he could have the primary field cleared; no one else is talking about running right now.

Sifton brings some strengths..

·         From his time in the Senate, he’s well-known and respected by some key Democratic constituencies: organized labor and trial attorneys.

·         Talk is that Blunt could face a primary challenge from Eric Greitens. That could create disunity among Republican voters.

But there are daunting challenges, most related to the Dem’s overall political environment in Missouri.

·         Pretty much any Democratic candidate now, barring Galloway’s next run or bringing a veterans out of political retirement (Nixon, Zweifel et al), will be a regional candidate lacking statewide name recognition.

·         While Dems believe that the Republican turnout and resulting statewide schlacking and sweep were fueled by Donald Trump being on the ballot, they acknowledge that their loss goes deeper than just one man.  Missouri is a red state.

·         2022, with Biden in the White House, is expected to be a difficult midterm election for Democrats.

·         Dems still lack strategic (and tactical) plans to lessen their losses in rural Missouri while building on their appeal to the suburbs.

Vaccine Distribution Begins

Post Dispatch reports on hospital workers integrating the vaccine distribution into their already stressed situations. 

Area hospitals, COVID-19 vaccine now in hand, began on Tuesday the herculean task of delivering doses into the arms of thousands of front-line staff, a job of crushing urgency.

Hospitals are already stretched. The number of coronavirus patients has doubled since the beginning of November and tripled since mid-October. That’s left health systems planning a vaccine rollout without enough hands to do the work. Mercy has already mobilized staff in other roles — pharmacists and administrators, for instance — to help deliver vaccinations. More than 100 SSM Health employees have volunteered for vaccine duty. BJC HealthCare is looking to partners at Washington University to help out.

·         “This is more labor-intensive than anything I’ve ever seen,” said Mike Lauer, BJC HealthCare’s executive director of emergency preparedness….

Meanwhile

On Facebook Sen. Ed Emery shares an anti-vax opinion.  See it here.

·         “There is a widespread belief that childhood immunizations are responsible for ending the scourge of deaths from childhood diseases in our nation, but this is largely false…

·         “The CDC claims that all childhood vaccines are ‘safe and effective,’ but the U.S. Supreme Court has called vaccines ‘unavoidably unsafe.’”

·         “There is rightfully concern over any new COVID-19 vaccines, which the mainstream and the federal government would have you believe will be the answer to the COVID problem. Interestingly, hydroxychloroquine has been shown to be nearly 100% effective when used with azithromycin and zinc in combination…”

Roeber Engaged

Rep-elect Rick Roeber shared engagement pictures over Facebook.  See them here.

She said yes!

Laurie and I both admitted we were falling for one another over carrot cake from Jack Stack Barbecue earlier this year I took her back to Jack Stack tonight and proposed to her. When we were having our carrot cake I got on a knee and I asked her to marry me. I gave her this wonderful ring that we picked out together. We are so happy! God is so good all the time!

I imagine it's been quite a rollercoaster for Roeber.  His wife, the late Rep. Rebecca Roeber, died in July 2019.  He ran for her seat, faced allegations from his children, and now he’s engaged.

Haahr’s Next Move

Springfield News Leader’s Austin Huguelet tries to pin down outgoing Speaker Elijah Haahr on his political plans.  See it here.

Speaking of the future: What do you have planned next?

Right now, I want to come back to Springfield and practice law. I'm a single dad, I've got four kids that are 9 and under and most of the time just being home and being with them is a lot, it'd be sort of nice to do that. I don't see the need to make something happen in the short or long term.

Of course, that hasn't stopped folks from mentioning you as someone who might run for auditor or Congress. Any interest?

Until something actually opens up, I don't want to make a decision… But, you know, Congressman (Billy) Long took a pretty public pledge that he would only do 12 years, which would mean he's not running in 2022. But there's so many talented people in southwest Missouri that would be interested in a position like that, whether it's (Treasurer) Scott Fitzpatrick or Sen. (Bill) White of Joplin or Sen. (Lincoln) Hough (of Springfield).  I don't think anybody's going to be able to make a decision about that in the next few months…

Fair. Do you want to serve again, though?

You know, I enjoyed the time in the legislature as much as any job I've ever had…. I love the law, but trying to decide how we're going to set up policy that allows our state to move forward and debating with other very intelligent people about it ...

So what you're saying is ... you want to run for mayor?

(Laughing) No. And (Springfield Mayor) Ken (McClure) does a great job.

So you do want to serve again?

I — yeah. I mean — if the opportunity was there and the time was right for me and my family, I would be very interested in that. Because like I said, it's just a really awesome responsibility.

How Will STLians React to Prop D?

Show Me Victories conducted a poll to see how St. Louis voters will approach their first election with approval voting.  They found that “voters are thinking strategically.”  See the result here.

Topline Analysis:

·         Seventy-one percent of likely March 2021 voters are either somewhat or extremely familiar with Proposition D.

·         Although most voters express some level of familiarity with the proposition, nearly half (43%) said they would only vote for one candidate.

·         A majority of voters (52%) say they will vote for the candidate with the best chance to win, even if they support more than one candidate. In contrast, a quarter of voters (26%) will consider voting for two candidates, while one in five (20%) will consider voting for every candidate they support.

Teacher Shortage?

Wall Street Journal reports on the nation’s teacher shortage.  See it here.

·         As if the pandemic weren’t disruptive enough, many American schools are facing a growing shortage of teachers. School districts are recruiting parents as substitute teachers, online class sizes are soaring to 50 children or more and bus drivers are baby-sitting classrooms. Some are considering allowing asymptomatic teachers who were exposed to Covid-19 to continue to show up…

·         To compensate, states are increasingly relying on alternative or emergency credentials to allow people who have no formal training to become teachers…

·         In August, Missouri lowered the substitute-teaching requirement to a high-school diploma and an online training course; Iowa lowered the minimum age to 20 from 21 and education level to an associate degree from a bachelor’s.  In November, Scottsdale Unified School District in Arizona asked parents to consider applying for emergency substitute certification, which requires a high-school diploma and background check.  “I thought it was a joke,” said Sandra Kidd, mother of a ninth-grader at Scottsdale’s Chaparral High School. “You’re basically hiring a glorified baby-sitter.”

Panel Announced

The Sixth Circuit Judicial Commission has met and selected a panel of three nominees for the circuit judge vacancy in Division II of the Platte County circuit court that will be created December 31, by the term expiration of Judge James W. Van Amburg. The nominees are: W. Ann Hansbrough, Myles A. Perry, and Abe Q. Shafer V.

Gubby Appts

Governor Mike Parson announced ten appointments to various boards and commissions.

·         Sam Gladney was appointed to the Bi-State Development Agency of the Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan District.

·         Dr. Gabriel Cline and Dr. Ann Rost were appointed to the State Committee of Psychologists.

·         Stephen Bubanovich, Amy Strauss and Chad Greer were appointed to the Missouri Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors, and Professional Landscape Architects.

·         Dr. Jennifer Williams Tinnel, Dr. Virginia Mennemeyer, and Stacie Scrivner were appointed to the Missouri Dental Board.

·         Bob Wollenman was appointed to the Missouri Western State University Board of Governors.

Lobbyists Registrations

Ward Cook added AMAROK.

$5K+ Contributions

Kansas City Regional Association of REALTORS Missouri RPAC - $7,155 from Missouri Realtors PAC, Inc.

Birthdays

Happy birthday to Rep. Jon Carpenter and Jennifer Durham.