MOScout Daily Update: AG 2024 Begins... Parson Vows To Help Bailey - Scharf Watch - Luetky Watch - Kehoe Revs Up Car $$$ - Pfenny Double Murder and more...
Bailey as AG
Wednesday, Governor Mike Parson appointed his general counsel Andrew Bailey to succeed Eric Schmitt as attorney general.
See the announcement press conference here.
Bailey is empathic that he’ll “absolutely” run for a full term in 2024. The expectation is that there will be a spirit primary contest for that nomination.
Bailey starts, though, as the incumbent now. And at the press conference Parson vowed to help him. “He’s going to have the full resources of the governor of the state of Missouri… On the political side I’ll do everything I can.”
· Bailey said he would review Schmitt’s portfolio of lawsuits against the Biden Administration before committing to pursue them. However, he said he planned to “stand in the gap against federal overreach.”
Scharf Watch
A lot of eyes will be watching Will Scharf. He’s among those seemingly weighing a run for attorney general. And as the gubernatorial race has shown, 2024 is not going to be a slow start cycle.
Scharf was policy director for Eric Greitens, and is now an Assistant US Attorney. He has close ties to Leonard Leo, head of the Federalist Society, and some believe he has the ability to gather up the same coalition that powered Josh Hawley’s successful AG campaign in 2016
This week, Scharf is doing media…
· The Annie Frey Show on St. Louis conservative talk radio station 97.1 FM.
· NewsMax cable station.
Is it a prelude to an announcement? Probably won’t have to wait too long to find out.
Luetkemeyer Watch
Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer has made no secret about his ambition to be attorney general. Earlier this month he amended his candidate committee. It’s no longer Luetkemeyer for Senate; it’s now “Luetkemeyer for Missouri.” And the form (see it here) now says he’s running for a statewide office in 2024.
With his recent re-election Luetkemeyer is term limited in the Senate. Termed officials often pick an election on the horizon as a placeholder to keep their campaign cash as they weigh their options.
We won’t have post-election cash numbers until later next month, but the cash on-hand figures from the 8-Day Reports show a war-chest of over $1 million…
· Candidate committee - $869K
· Prosperous Missouri PAC – $292K
· Tony PAC - $25K
Car Dealer Checks for Kehoe
Last week, Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe received the endorsement from the Missouri Auto Dealers Association. He’s been collecting those organizational endorsements as he seeks to build a platform to compete against the Ashcroft last name.
But maybe more important is the fleet of checks that his PAC, American Dream PAC, has been receiving this month from dealers and dealerships this month. Here are the ones large enough to trigger the reporting requirement from MEC. They total $180,000.
11/9/22 - $10,000 from Ford Groves (Cape Girardeau)
11/9/22 - $10,000 from Adams Automotive Group (Lees Summit)
11/9/22 - $10,000 from Frank Leta Ford (Ofallon)
11/21/22 - $10,000 from Hutcheson Ford Sales Inc. (St. James)
11/21/22 - $50,000 from Joe Machens Reconditioning Center (Columbia)
11/24/22 - $10,000 from Century Motor Corp (Wentzville)
11/24/22 - $25,000 from Dave Sinclair Buick GMC (St. Louis)
11/24/22 - $25,000 from Clifford Harris (Warrensburg)
11/24/22 - $10,000 from All Star Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram (Bridgeton)
11/24/22 - $20,000 from Don Brown Chevrolet (St. Louis)
Bar Fight Turns Fatal at Pfenny’s
Pfenny’s, once a hopping spot among legislators, was the scene of a double murder last weekend. KRCGTV reports…
Damien L. Davis, 35 of Kansas City, was charged on Saturday with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of armed criminal action, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. He is in custody on a no-bond warrant.
Authorities have also identified the two victims as Skylar Smock, 26, and Corey Thames, 43, both of Jefferson City. Police have identified Smock as an employee of the bar…
Several witnesses allegedly told investigators that Davis fought with someone identified only as "Victim #2," presumably Thames, "that included them wrestling on the floor over a firearm."
After "Victim #1," presumably Smock, tried separating the two, he began escorting Thames out of the door, at which point, "Davis approached both victims from behind, and from only a few feet away, fired a single shot in the back of" Smock's head. Davis then began firing at Thames.
Witnesses allegedly described Thames as "still alive after collapsing, because he was still moving his legs. Davis then walked closely to and stood over [Thames] and crouched next to him, where he placed the firearm at close range to [Thames'] upper torso/chest area and fired additional round(s)."
Surveillance footage from the business depicts the entire shooting, which police say matches witnesses' accounts.
Gubby Appts
Governor Mike Parson appointed Heather J. Hays as Associate Circuit Judge for the 22nd Judicial Circuit. She will fill the vacancy created by the appointment of the Honorable Craig Higgins as Circuit Judge.
Lobbyists Registrations
Jake Vance added Saint Luke's Health System.
Richard AuBuchon deleted Associated Industries of Missouri, and TIAA.
$5K+ Contributions
RightPath PAC - $50,000 from John Dains.
American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $10,000 from Century Motor Corp 13500 Veterans
American Dream PAC - $25,000 from Dave Sinclair Buick GMC.
American Dream PAC - $25,000 from Clifford Harris.
American Dream PAC - $10,000 from All Star Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram.
American Dream PAC - $20,000 from Don Brown Chevrolet.
Lincoln PAC (pro-Hough) - $15,000 from Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council MO KS Area PAC.
McCreery for Missouri - $11,000 from Tracy McCreery.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Sen. Dave Schatz, Rep. Jim Kalberloh, Janet Hirschman, Lenny Jones, Jeff Messenger, and Ed Schieffer.
MOScout Slacker Schedule – Part II
I’m taking another short week. Only three days: Monday – Wednesday. My wife and I have a quick trip planned to celebrate our 20th anniversary, so I’ll be off Thursday – Sunday.