MOScout Daily Update: Dempsey's New Firm - Court Docs in Schroer Case - New WH Task Force Report - Update IE PAC List - Onder Vote Count and more....
Dempsey Hangs Out a Shingle
Former Senate Pro Tem Tom Dempsey announced yesterday he was starting his own lobbying firm. Dempsey had previously been with Pelopidas which dissolved following their split with Rex Sinquefield. See the website for Dempsey’s new firm, First Capitol Advisors, here.
During his 17 years in public service and five years of government consulting, Tom has been recognized by his peers as a pragmatic, commonsense leader who builds consensus and gets results...
On naming his new firm, Dempsey said, “I’ve always believed strongly in family and community. I was born and raised in St. Charles- home of the first state capitol- and our family’s business has been located on First Capitol Drive for 65 years. That’s why naming the company First Capitol Advisors seemed like such a natural fit. I was instructed at a young age to never forget who you are and where you’re from.”
Court Docs Undermine Schroer Residency Claim
Post-Dispatch reports on the court documents in the case concerning Rep. Nick Schroer’s out-of-district home. See it here.
An embattled state representative filed mortgage documents earlier this year listing an out-of-district address as his “primary residence,” according to mortgage records filed in St. Charles County Circuit Court last week… Schroer lists himself as a co-borrower along with his wife, Katherine, on a property in the 800 block of Outback Court in Defiance… In automobile insurance paperwork processed in June, the Schroers list their address as the Outback Court property…
[Schroer] sent a picture of a lease he signed with Mary Gerst, in which he is obligated to pay her $125 per month until January 2023…
Schroer, in a series of text messages Monday, declined a request to allow a Post-Dispatch photographer to take pictures of his basement apartment.
He said that since Datt filed her lawsuit, city officials showed up at Gerst’s house in response to a complaint that the basement dwelling violated city code.
“Therefore we had to amend the lease and now I moved into the 3rd bedroom,” Schroer said. “It’s not optimal since I want to minimize risk of COVID to Betty, but it’s what we had to do in order to stay in the house after they filed the complaint…”
Attorney Matt Vianello, working for the Democrats, also deposed Elizabeth Gerst. The house has one bathroom, according to property records.
Asked “did he ever come upstairs and use the bathroom?” the elder Gerst replied, “I don’t know. Maybe during the night. I don’t know. I don’t hear anything at night at all.”
Latest WH Task Force Report
See the latest White House Task Force report on Missouri here.
At the top of the recommendations… “Ensuring mask utilization statewide will prevent unnecessary transmission and deaths in vulnerable communities.”
Meanwhile
Axios reports that Americans are increasingly skittish when they think about the still-hypothetical COVID vaccine. See it here.
The share of Americans eager to try a first-generation coronavirus vaccine dropped significantly in the latest installment of the Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index, as President Trump hyped suggestions that one could be ready before the election… The trend is taking place among Republicans as well as Democrats. It's another warning of the potential difficulties health authorities will face in convincing enough Americans that a vaccine is safe and effective.
Updated IE PACs
I’ve updated the list of Independent Expenditure PACs. Find them here. Added…
· St Charles Organization of Republicans - Phil Christofanelli
· Missouri Senate Leadership PAC – Bob Onder.
Parson Signs Special Session Bills
Governor Mike Parson signed HB 66 and HB 46 into law, which were passed by the General Assembly during the recent special session on violent crime.
eMailbag: Onder for Floor Leader
At least 8 of the folks that voted for Onder in [the last leadership] race are still in the chamber, and he probably picks up the Moon and Brattin votes, putting him just a few votes shy of what would be the magic number of 12 in a Rowden-loss scenario. Luektemeyer and Rehder are close to Onder in philosophy, and if they join him...
Help Wanted
Great Rivers Greenway seeks Civic Engagement Manager position. “This position interacts with people from all backgrounds, throughout the St. Louis region. Stakeholders can range from technical advisors, consultants and elected officials to community leaders, residents and greenway users. This position requires being skilled at engaging at all levels. Great Rivers Greenway has an overall engagement strategy and framework that has been developed in collaboration with staff, board and partners to guide these efforts. This position will also support all departments with any engagement needs, above and beyond typical greenway building projects.” See the ad here.
New Committees
Tommie Pierson Jr formed a candidate committee (Committee to Elect Pierson Jr.) to run for a statewide office in 2022 as a Democrat.
5K+ Contributions
PG PAC - $7,000 from Penman Group.
Ozark Gateway Leadership PAC – $10,000 from Health Systems, Inc.
Northwest Missouri Leadership PAC - $10,000 from Health Systems, Inc.
House Democratic Campaign Committee - $10,000 from AT&T.
Page PAC - $10,000 from AGC of Missouri PAC.
Lobbyists Registrations
Tom Dempsey added ACCEL Entertainment Gaming LLC.
Richard McIntosh and John Gaskin added Massena Consulting, St. Louis Auto Dealers Association, Grey Eagle Distributors, and York Management Group LLC.
Scott Brown added Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, and deleted Alkermes Inc.
Jeff Aboussie deleted Grow Missouri and Rebuild Saint Louis Inc.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to David Willis and Bruce Franks Jr.