MOScout Daily Update: SWMO House Races - Schmitt Contra School Boards - Holliday to Friends of Gov's House - Dueker Fundy - Police for Roorda and more...

MOScout House Primary Report: Southwest MO

Today’s segment in my ongoing House primary reports covers Southwest Missouri.  Find it here.

Feel free to download it, and share it will clients, colleagues, etc.  In this report…

·         House 125 – Open seat. Three-way Republican primary.

·         House 126 – Incumbent Jim Kalberloh challenged.

·         House 137 – Open seat. Two-way Republican primary.

·         House 140 – Open seat. Two-way Republican primary.

·         House 142 – Incumbent Jeff Knight challenged.

·         House 156 – Democratic primary.  Rep. Brian Seitz is the incumbent.

·         House 157 – Incumbent Mitch Boggs challenged.

·         House 161 – Incumbent Lane Roberts challenged.

My favorite line from a candidate biography in this report: “For most of the past 20 years, you may have seen me as one of many characters working at Silver Dollar City.”

And

Springfield News-Leader has a profile today on Bob Titus.  He’ll replace termed Rep. Jared Taylor.  See it here.

Bob Titus, a Republican and longtime insurance agency owner, will represent Nixa and western Christian County in the Missouri House of Representatives starting in January…

Titus' candidacy is founded on five main issues, listed on his website: "increasing school choice, defending the right to bear arms, standing up to big tech censorship, passing pro-life policies and fully funding law enforcement."

Schmitt Contra School Boards

Joplin Globe reports on Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s latest foray into school board politics.  Read it here.

One of seven school districts subpoenaed by Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, the Neosho School District plans to study the subpoena’s details and respond later this month to its allegations.

Schmitt on Wednesday announced the subpoenas, which accuse Neosho and the other districts of using student surveys that “asked students about their parents’ political beliefs and parents’ income levels, and included racially biased questions,” according to a news release.

Superintendent Jim Cummins said the district is evaluating the subpoena and will determine a response to it after consulting with the district’s attorney…

According to copies of the surveys sent by Cummins to the Globe… none of the questions referred to parents' political beliefs and income levels, or racially biased questions.

·         One MOScouter thinks the political calculus here may be misguided: This is so dumb of Schmitt to do. People/voters like their own school districts. Newton County/Neosho are home to a lot of Republican primary voters…

NIL Update

St. Louis Business Journal has a story about local companies incorporating the “name, like and images” of collegiate athletes into their business models.  Read it here.

"When that decision came through, we immediately had a little powwow and got together to discuss how we wanted to move into that area,” said Aaron Park, owner of Arch Apparel, which specializes in St. Louis-inspired designs…

Within a month, the leadership of Arch Apparel, which has three brick-and-mortar locations locally, developed a strategy to add collegiate athletes into their marketing strategy. By mid-August, the company unveiled its “Arch Athletes” program, featuring endorsement deals with eight collegiate athletes. Through the program, the athletes were given Arch Apparel items to promote on social media with a special discount code, recouping 50% of the profit from anything sold using the code…

“I feel most businesses will in one way, shape or form integrate collegiate athletes within their marketing within the next few years because that’s the best way to reach young audiences," said Ashton Keys, co-founder and CEO of Athlytic, a St. Louis-based startup with technology that connects collegiate athletes and brands.

And

Rep. Kurtis Gregory’s amendment to Sen. Barbara Washington’s SB 718 made some changes to NIL this session.  It’s still waiting on Governor Mike Parson’s signature.  Read about it here.

Dueks Fundy

Jane Dueker, running against Sam Page in the St. Louis County Executive Democratic primary, has a fundy coming up… “Boots and Jeans with Jane.”  See the invite here.

Roorda Hauls in Police Endorsements

Jeff Roorda, running in Senate 22 (Jefferson County, Wieland termed), announced their recent endorsements.  It’s heavy on police organizations…  Eastern Missouri Coalition of Police, St. Louis Police Officers Association, St. Louis County Police Association, Jefferson County Labor Club, Teamsters Joint Council 13, former Arnold City Councilmembers Paul Freese & Nancy Crisler, and Professional Firefighters of Eastern Missouri, IAFF Local 2665.

Legal Defense Fund Gets Big $$$

MOIndy reports on a windfall for low-income legal defense.  Read it here.

·         A fund Missouri legislators created 20 years ago to provide low-income residents with civil legal services received an unprecedented $126 million in funding this year.

·         Last year’s budget appropriation was $2.7 million…

·         The money will go towards four legal service organizations: Legal Aid of Western Missouri, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Legal Services of Southern Missouri and Mid-Missouri Legal Services… The massive budget allocation comes almost entirely from a $2.1 billion judgment against Johnson & Johnson in St. Louis Circuit Court for ovarian cancers caused by its talc products…

Roberts Adds Endorsements

Team Roberts reports that Sen. Steven Roberts received endorsements from the Lewis and Clark and Northwest Township Democrats as well as the Florissant Township Open Democratic Club.

Holliday to Friends of Gov Mansion

Tami Holliday is the new Executive Director at Friends of the Missouri Governor’s Mansion.  See the website here.

eMailbag on McCreery Poll

McCreery has been a state rep for 9 years and campaigning for this position for 2 full years for State Senate yet still can’t manage to break 50%. Meanwhile George Hruza is a first-time candidate who hasn’t even spent a dollar and is way ahead of the pace needed to win in November…

Lobbyists Registrations

Chelsea Jerominski added Association of Equipment Manufacturers.

$5K+ Contributions

Taxpayers Unlimited, Inc. - $344,528 from International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 42 KCFSEI.

JanePAC (pro-Dueker) - $10,000 from John OConnell.

Conservative Justice PAC - $125,000 from Holland Law Firm.