MOScout Daily Update: Ross Fired, Then Hired - More on Fundraising - Vandeven to Exit - Kunce Cash and more...
Plocher Fires Ross
Speaker Dean Plocher abruptly dismissed his chief of staff Kenny Ross. Ross is a trusted and well-respected staffer who’s known for keeping his word and being big on integrity. He’s also one of those relatively young (just turned 40 earlier this month) staffers who’s old in capitol experience. He has served eight speakers. He was chief of staff for Plocher’s three predecessors – Rob Vescovo, Elijah Haahr, and Todd Richardson.
No official reason was given, but news reports questioned if the move was related to Plocher’s recent controversial attempt to change a House contract dealing with software.
My in-box panned the move in unusually harsh terms…
· It looks and smells a whole lot like Dean fired a whistleblower. I can’t fathom a worse move he could have made right now.
· I am assuming you are going to mention how incredibly stupid firing Kenny was for the Speaker. This is the same staffer who has worked for three speakers before Plocher and been trusted for his loyalty and intelligence by each. I would also mention that Vescovo and Haahr hated each other and Kenny was still able to serve both. That’s a problem with the speaker not the staffer.
· Throwing away decades of institutional knowledge… Next session is going to be a total shit show. The House will be a total disaster. Huge mistake on Plochers part.
Don’t Cry for Kenny
Before the day was over, Ross had been hired by Senate Pro Tem Caleb Rowden.
But of course…
· That doesn’t necessarily bode well for House-Senate relations next session… Buckle up.
Yesterday was a pretty thick with numbers in the fundraising rundown. Here are some interesting stories within and behind the numbers…
Hough Cash
Sen. Lincoln Hough had a nice quarter, outraising a lot of statewide candidates. Hough’s candidate committee raised $125,000 and his PAC, Lincoln PAC, raised another $153,000. His total cash on hand between the two committees is now over $600,000.
Most folks don’t see Hough running in 2024. But…
· The very healthy war-chest gives him options.
· And it pushes back the timeline he’d have to use to make a decision – if he did want to jump into a statewide race.
Steward Backs Gregory
The pro-David Gregory PAC, Show Me Growth, recorded a $5,000 check from “D T Steward.” That’s World Wide Technology’s Chairman David Steward.
· We’ll see if the GOP mega-donor follows up with more support for Gregory’s Senate 15 bid.
Gray for Black Jack City Council
Rep. Alan Gray amended his campaign committee to say that he’s running for City Council of Black Jack. See the paperwork here. Gray had previously had “secretary of state” as his office sought.
There’s now no Democrat seeking the SOS office according to Missouri Ethics Commission filings. But…
· Two current Democratic legislators who are termed – Reps. Deb Lavender and Peter Merideth – have “statewide office” on their campaign committees.
End of the Vandeven Era
At yesterday’s State Board of Education meeting, Missouri Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven announced she will be leaving next year.
She has served as the Commissioner of Education for more than seven years, from January 2015 to December 2017, and again January 2019 to present.
Kari Monsees could be tapped as interim commissioner if a successor isn’t found by next summer.
· Other names potentially in the mix…John Jungmann, the former Springfield superintendent; Jeremy Tucker from Liberty; Mike Fulton from Pattonville; Doug Hayter from MASA; Art McCoy who retired from Jennings; and Robbyn Wahby who’s been running the Missouri Charter Public School Commission.
Kunce Cash
Democrat Lucas Kunce running to unseat Republican incumbent Senator Josh Hawley is as well positioned – from a cash standpoint – as Jason Kander was when he narrowly lost to Roy Blunt.
2024 Watch Updated
You can find a listing of folks running for statewide offices and state senate office in the “2024 Watch” in the upper right corner of the homepage.
I’ve updated it to include the latest fundraising numbers.
Pro-Hausman PAC
Integrity PAC was formed. It supports Rep. Wendy Hausman. Its treasurer is Jeff Marshall. See the paperwork here.
$5K+ Contributions
Citizens for Schwadron - $75,000 from Adam Schwadron.
American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $7,175 from Paladin PAC.
Friends For Hardy Billington - $60,613 from Hardy Billington.
Forward Jackson County - $10,000 from Operating Engineers Local 101 Political Action Committee.
The 1821 PAC - $20,000 from Advantage Capital Management Corp (New Orleans, LA).
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin, Rep. Chris Dinkins, Jim Talent, and Ray McCarty.