MOScout Daily Update: Richard Passes - O'Donnell for Pro Tem - Grier for Mayor - 2024 Trumpified? - Endorsements and more...
Richard Passes
Ron Richard passed away last Friday. He had the remarkable distinction of having served in the top positions of both the House and Senate. That’s remarkable because the two chambers have dissimilar cultures. Still, Richard’s leadership style was such that he ascended to Speaker of the hierarchical House, and then again later as President Pro Tem of the decentralized Senate. And as Pro Tem he championed and defended the Senate’s way of doing business.
He was straight-forward, seemingly relishing his no-nonsense gruffness, but beneath it was a deliberative, thoughtful leader.
The visitation for Ron Richard will be this Tuesday, June 13, at Missouri Southern North End Zone facility 5:30PM. to 8PM.
The service will be held Wednesday, June 14, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 3035 S. Central City Road, Joplin, at 10AM
O’Donnell for Pro Tem
Rep. Michael O’Donnell announced he’s running for speaker pro tem.
From his letter to colleagues…
As you have seen, I have experience on the dais and presiding over the Missouri House of Representatives, which is an important responsibility that comes with this position. I believe that my experience in this regard, combined with my knowledge of parliamentary procedure and legislative strategy, would allow me to ensure that the legislative process runs smoothly and efficiently…
I believe that my ability to work with anyone and build consensus would serve me well in the role of Speaker Pro Tem, as it would enable me to advance our shared goals and priorities for the people of Missouri.
Grier for Mayor
Former Rep. Derek Grier amended his campaign committee to run for Mayor of Chesterfield. See the paperwork here.
· Grier’s committee showed $23,782 cash on-hand in its July 2022 report. It has filed Limited Activity reports since then indicating he’s neither raised nor spent $500 in any time period.
Kiehne for LG?
John Kiehne has amended his committee to run for statewide office as a Democratic. He plans to run for lieutenant governor.
Keihne ran for unsuccessfully for Senate 26 (in 2018 and 2022) and House 110 (in 2020).
· http://kiehneformissouri.com/ still shows him running for CD-2.
GOP 2024 Primaries to Be Trumpified?
It seems the indictment has reinjected the Trump-loyalty-litmus-test into the Republican Party. Republicans pre-emptively declaring Donald Trump innocent shows how some are calculating the need to cater to the Trump wing as look at winning primaries.
Will we have a rush too out-Trump opposition in the Republican Missouri statewide primaries? I’m guessing we will….
Endorsement Watch
· Bailey Gets Police: Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced dual endorsements from the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and the St. Louis Police Officers’ Association (SLPOA). It’s a nice pick-up for the incumbent as it will reinforce his law-and-order image.
· AFL-CIO Repeats: The Missouri AFL-CIO sent a second press release, reiterating their endorsement of Lucas Kunce after Wesley Bell’s entry to the race. “Even with changes in the U.S. Senate race, the Missouri AFL-CIO is proud to endorse Kunce for Senate…
Gore Ripples?
One STL watcher says that last week Gabe Gore, the city’s new circuit attorney, had Presiding Judge Beth Hogan swearing in “over 50 new employees – mostly seasoned attorneys many of whom had not been in the circuit attorney office for over ten years.”
He thinks we could see overcrowded jails “because of Gore’s law and order approach. Expect the prisoners being sent to other jails outside of St. Louis…”
We’ll see…
Clout PGA
Politico’s Influence reports on Jeff Roe’s Clout Public Affairs work for the PGA.
· Clout Public Affairs — the PR firm whose work for both the PGA Tour and an advocacy group for 9/11 victims and their families got it dragged into the legal saga over the tour’s now-former rival LIV Golf — has dropped the PGA as a client following the golf leagues’ planned merger…
· The firm had been working to help the families of 9/11 victims agitate against LIV Golf over its funding from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund — one of a number of public relations or lobbying shops that had cashed in on the high-profile golf feud…
· Clout’s work for both 9/11 Justice and the PGA Tour sparked LIV’s ire, and the Saudi upstart subpoenaed the firm as part of its litigation with the PGA, a legal dispute set to wind down as part of LIV and PGA’s forthcoming union. Clout, in turn, had accused LIV of trying to track the 9/11 families…
Lobbyists Registrations
Kathryn Gunter added Oracle America, Inc.
$5K+ Contributions
American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $25,000 from CRL (Lenexa, KS).
NOCO United Professional FF PAC - $8,261 from FF of North County PAC.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Sen. Karla May, Scott Charton, and Mark Mantovani.
Congratulations
To Maggie and Brian Bunten on the birth of their second son, Rory Karl Bunten, 8lbs 15oz. “Rory starts his first lobbying job at Gamble & Schlemeier on Wednesday.”