MOScout Daily Update: Million Dollar Soup? - Pietzman Drops in Senate 10 - Onder Out - SEMO House Report - Tilley PAC $$$ and more...
Senate 10: Pietzman Drops
Rep. Randy Pietzman withdrew from the Senate 10 race yesterday – the last day possible to take one’s name off the ballot.
Pietzman had a strong geographic base in what was a six-way primary. His House district was tucked neatly into new Senate 10, and he hailed from the Lincoln County, the largest county in the district.
· One observer thought this development was a positive for Rep. Travis Fitzwater, though I’m not sure Pietzman’s would-be voters necessarily “go” anywhere naturally.
Also
Sen. Bob Onder withdrew from the St. Charles County Executive race as well. The contest was a potential bellwether race in St. Charles pitting the old-school establishment as embodied by incumbent Steve Ehlmann against insurgent firebrands like Onder. Several politicos speculated that Onder made the decision because of inauspicious polling. His official statement says the decision is “in the best interest of our family.”
While I will continue to engage in public policy in order to serve our great county and our great country, after lengthy discussion, reflection and prayer, my wife Allison and I have concluded that it is not in the best interests of our family that I continue the race for St. Charles County Executive. This decision, I believe, is best for my family, and will also allow me to focus on elections deeply important to the future of our state, including the race for my own replacement in Senate District 2. In this race I have endorsed State Representative Nick Schroer…. I apologize to those of you who are disappointed by this decision….
MOScout House Primary Report: Southeast Missouri
Today’s segment in my ongoing House primary reports covers Southeast Missouri. Find it here. Feel free to download it, and share it will clients, colleagues, etc. In this report…
House 143 – Incumbent Rep. Bennie Cook challenged. Three-way primary.
House 147 – Open seat. Wallingford resigned. Three-way primary.
House 149 – Open seat. Rone termed. Two-way primary
Rumorville: Million-Dollar Soupy
Potentially huge news in CD-4… Rumor is that former NHLer-turned congressional candidate Jim “Soupy” Campbell is prepping to drop a million dollars of personal money into his campaign.
With two months left, it’s right on time. This would catapult him to the top of the cash on-hand list in that seven-way Republican primary where Mark Alford had been leading the field with $340K on-hand. Money matters, people. Especially in a big geographic playing field like a congressional district. It’s the only way to reach voters.
· Meanwhile, Governor Mike Parson is backing Kalena Bruce. See the MOIndy article here.
Tilley PACs Load Up
In the large contributions, Phoenix Home Care & Hospice put nearly a quarter million dollars into six PACs associated with the former speaker-turned lobbyist Steven Tilley.
Missouri Independent had previously reported on Torch Electronics doing similarly last month.
In between those two batches of checks, Warrenton Oil Company gave $15K to each PAC.
This adds up to $570,000 in fresh money into these PACs.
It’ll be interesting to see how it’s deployed. It could potentially influence the auditor’s race or legislative races this cycle, or end up helping Jay Ashcroft who Tilley is backing in his 2024 gubernatorial campaign.
STL Corruption Watch: Reed Resigns, Weaver Indicted
The hits keep coming…
Tony Weaver (see a Post-Dispatch explainer on him here), a Sam Page appointee, was indicted for a kickback scheme, and Lewis Reed finally resigned following his indictment last week.
It feels like a time of crisis in St. Louis.
· Mayor Tishaura Jones tapped into that sentiment that there’s systemic corruption not a few bad apples. Her statement: “The troubling charges brought by the US Attorney pull back the curtain to highlight how those elected may exploit our city for their own benefit and profit; this has been an incredibly dispiriting, but necessary, moment of reflection for our city… Let me be clear: This problem runs deeper than a few individuals. St. Louisans deserve better…”
Bad Omen for IP Reform?
While a lot of eyes were watching the California recall last night, Amendment C in South Dakota had the attention of some MO politicos. It was somewhat like the IP reform proposal in the Missouri Senate this year requiring a three-fifths vote to approve some ballot measures. It went down in flames, 33% in favor.
Roberts Nabs 28th Ward
Team Roberts cheers an endorsement from a ward in the City’s Central corridor… Huge momentum swing tonight - the progressive 28th Ward Democratic committee just endorsed Steve Roberts For Congress! In 2020, Cori Bush won the 28th Ward 51% to 43% showing buyers’ remorse is real and spreading throughout the district!"
eMailbag on North MO Primary Report
· Seeing that one of the GOP primary state rep candidates is a funeral director reminds me of a race for Jackson County legislature in the '70s when a funeral home owner candidate had the slogan "Gilbert Hinton will be the last one to let you down," which he blared from a loudspeaker on one of his funeral limos driving through neighborhoods. He lost; the voters decided to let him down.
· It will be interesting to see how many votes Randy Railsback wins by, considering his long career in economic development across all of Northwest Missouri, the last 20 with the 11-county Green Hills RPC. If you have clean water to drink in that area, chances are Railsback helped you to get it.
$5K+ Contributions
JanePAC (pro-Dueker) - $10,000 from Keely Travers.
Missouri American Water Company Employees Political Action Committee - $10,000 from Bommarito Construction.
A Better Missouri Political Action Committee - $32,000 from Anheuser-Busch Cos.
Missouri Democratic State Committee - $25,000 from MO Drive Fund.
Conservative Leaders of Missouri - $40,000 from Phoenix Home Care & Hospice.
Missouri Senior PAC - $40,000 from Phoenix Home Care & Hospice.
Missouri Growth PAC - $40,000 from Phoenix Home Care & Hospice.
MO Majority PAC LLC - $40,000 from Phoenix Home Care & Hospice.
Missouri C PAC - $40,000 from Phoenix Home Care & Hospice.
Missouri AG PAC - $40,000 from Phoenix Home Care & Hospice.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Tricia Workman, Ray Wagner, and Stephen Webber.