MOScout Daily Update: Parson Staff Shake-Up - Busch3 Hearts Ehlmann - Carter Gets Supply - Schmitt 3Q - "HollyRod" and more...

Shake-Up!

“Shake-up” was the favorite phrase to describe the yesterday’s shuffling of state cabinet positions.

·         Post-Dispatch: “Shake-up in Missouri state government as Parson announces cabinet changes”  Read it here.

·         Missouri Independent: “In sudden cabinet shake-up, Parson announces director changes in five Missouri agencies” Read it here.

·         Springfield News Leader: “Head of Missouri social services, under scrutiny by lawmakers, steps down in cabinet shakeup”  Read it here.

Here’s the talk on some of the moves….

·         Maggie Kost will take over as DED Acting Director upon Director Rob Dixon's departure on October 22, 2021. In September, Director Dixon announced he would be taking a new post with Ameren Missouri… Kost comes from a communications background; folks expect a national search for the next permanent director.

·         Acting Director Jennifer Tidball will be stepping down from her current role to resume her position as Chief Operating Officer of DSS. Robert Knodell, Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Parson, will become Acting Director of DSS. Mr. Knodell will resign from the Office of the Governor, effective October 17, 2021, prior to joining DSS…  Tidball has had her share of detractors, and some see this as giving her critics a pound of flesh.  But one MOScouter sees it differently.  Tidball is a career public servant who’s probably happy to move out of the spotlight and back into the COO role again.  Meanwhile, Knodell’s resignation from the governor’s office could be an indication that this isn’t just another temporary assignment.  He may be nominated for Senate confirmation in the new position.

·         Current DOR Director Ken Zellers will take over as OA Acting Commissioner. Commissioner Sarah Steelman has stepped down as OA Commissioner, effective immediately.  Steelman told reporters that she was told to resign without being given a reason.  The hallway has suspected that Steelman’s days were numbered once her husband attempted to throw Steven Tilley under the bus last Spring.  I was surprised she lasted this long.  Zellers could be a permanent replacement at OA.

·         Valerie Huhn, current DMH Deputy Director, will become DMH Acting Director upon Director Stringer's retirement, effective at the end of the month.

·         Joseph Plaggenberg will become DOR Acting Director, effective immediately. Mr. Plaggenberg currently serves as General Counsel for the Department.

What It Means

It’s a pretty major “shake-up” touching a wide range of departments.  And it shows the muscle of Governor Mike Parson’s chief of staff Aaron Willard, who one lobbyist calls the most powerful chief of staff in recent gubernatorial history.  “These are Willard moves; you think were Parson’s ideas?!?”

Busch3 Backs Ehlmann

In the large contributions (below) August Busch III sent $50,000 to the campaign committee of Steve Ehlmann.  Ehlmann recently announced that he was running for re-election as St. Charles County Executive.

Sen. Bob Onder has been critical of Ehlmann and signaled that he’s looking at challenging him.  Onder amended his campaign committee to say that he was running for the County Exec position.

·         The contribution came after the deadline for the October quarterly report.  In that report, Ehlmann did not raise any money, and ended with only $1,500 cash on-hand.  Onder has not filed his October quarter yet, but his July report showed $130,000 cash on-hand.

Carter Takes Supply Reins

Mayor Tishaura Jones appointed former Rep. Chris Carter III to be the City’s Supply Commissioner.  The Supply Division “buys all supplies, equipment, equipment maintenance and selected services for almost all City-wide departments, including police, fire, parks and the airport.  Purchases under $500 are made directly by individual departments.  Purchases can be made via multiple year contract or individual RFQ’s depending on product usage.  The department administers approximately 200 contracts and processes about 3,200 requisitions per year from hundreds of vendors.”

Schmitt 3Q Number

Press release: Today, Missouri US Senate candidate Eric Schmitt announced a massive $2M raised since launching his campaign. Continuing a record-breaking fundraising pace, in Q3, Schmitt raised a grand total of $646,300… Since launching his campaign, Schmitt has received support from 6,493 unique donors, including donors from all 114 Missouri counties.

·         We haven’t seen the actual numbers yet, but word is that his campaign’s 3Q cash on-hand will be a touch over $1.1M. That’s approximately where it was at the end of last quarter, indicating that Schmitt’s team has started spending at a healthier clip.

·         And this figure doesn’t include his allied PAC, Save Missouri Values, whicih it would appear raised around $900K.

More on Small Media Landscape

One reader says the local newspaper industry is not as grim as I suggested yesterday.  “Just last year, Missouri Press welcomed three new newspapers that recently started publishing - the Phelps County Focus in Rolla, the South Cass Tribune in Harrisonville, and the Maries County Advocate in Vienna.  In order to become a MPA member, these newspapers had to publish consecutively for three years.  All three were started by local citizens that wanted to make sure that their community was being served.  For years and continuing, all counties have at least one newspaper.  And, during this time of one-third of Missourians at least don't have high-speed internet, local newspapers are still counted on for local news and information about what's going on next door, across town and across the county…”

Boyd Goes Hollywood?

Rodney Boyd (perhaps on a first-class seat direct to LAX as we speak or maybe he’s already the talk of the boulevard) is joining the TV show Food Is Love (take a look here).  The show is described as a love letter to the St. Louis food scene.  Boyd will serve as Executive Coordinating Producer.

From Philippine dishes off the popular Delmar Loop to Korean food located just off the Landing, there’s no limit to what one can find in the Gateway to the West. As [Chef Lasse Sorensen] explores local neighborhoods and the stories of the cooks behind each restaurant, he’s able to connect with individuals and better understand their backgrounds as well as the struggles they may have faced along the way.

Stinnett Launches House 133

In the suddenly hot race to succeed Rep. Curtis Trent, Melanie Stinnett officially launched her bid.  See her announcement video here.

“I’m not a political insider looking for the next step in a political career. I think

it’s important that the people of our community have a representative who lives

and works in the district they represent.”

·         Her primary opponent, Darin Chappell, anted $24K into his campaign the other day.  But one pro-Stinnett reader rubs his hands: “Expect Chappell’s residency and prior opposition to Trump to be big issues in the primary.” 

Help Wanted

Spectrum seeks Political Digital Journalist. “The Political Digital Journalist role in Jefferson City, is responsible for researching, enterprising, developing, writing, editing, and delivering a written presentation of local, compelling, creative and original political news stories on deadline. The role will also contribute to special features and stories. The Digital Journalist will create impactful and compelling content for the viewers in our local communities…”  See the ad here.

eMailbag on Schmitt’s

·         Schmitt Throttled – ROFL… The tweets you used as reference demonstrates Schmitt didn’t get throttled, and he got everything he needed in the way of validation by the crazy looney left. He won that round.

·         It’s classic Trumpian politics. Blow hard with an objectively false tweet that successfully signals his position in the culture war while comfortably celebrating ignorance to actual facts…  And bonus with this one’s not so subtle Covid commentary, celebrating people being “smart” in rejecting scientific consensus of their time, even if based on a complete falsehood.

·         Re Eric Schmitt:  When you pander to ignorance long enough, eventually you will become ignorant yourself.

New Committees

Second District Missouri Democrats was formed.  It’s a PAC. Its treasurer is John Judy Jr.

Lobbyists Registrations

Tracy King added Robbins Law Firm.

$5K+ Contributions

Committee To Elect Steve Ehlmann - $50,000 from August Busch III.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Larry Pleus (the big 6-0), John Mayfield, Linda Black Thomure, and Hardy Billington.