MOScout Daily Update: State Senate Kick-Offs - Fitz in Holland: Stop Thief! - Sensible MO Files IPs - Bell Endorsements and more...

Kick-Offs

Rep. Maggie Nurrenbern held her kick-off for Senate 17 last night at the Cinder Block Brewery.  “Huuuge turnout for Maggie.”   Senate 17 is a lean Dem district (52% Biden).

John Hewkin held his first of a series of kickoff events last night in Cuba, Missouri.  He’s running in Senate 3.  More than 75 locals were in attendance including Rep. Ron Copeland and former Sen. Dave Schatz.  Hewkin is opting to host a series of kick-off events leading into the fall to fully cover the district which now includes Crawford, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Washington and part of Jefferson Counties.

•           He’s working under the assumption that the current incumbent Sen. Elaine Gannon will not be seeking a second term.

Malek Fundy

Among the end-of-quarter fundraisers is State Treasurer Vivek Malek’s event tonight in Springfield.  The host committee (see the invite here) shows Malek has been spending time in Springfield building relationships. It includes several prominent Republicans including two former Missouri Republican Party chairmen and the current RNC Committeeman.

And

While the state treasurer may not have wizardly power of the attorney general to insert himself into every hot button issue, he does have “unclaimed property.”  See Malek grabbing some free TV time in the Ozarks on the subject here.

Sensible MO

Sensible MO filed three versions of their proposed gun reform initiative petitions to allow for local control of gun regulations.

All three versions include language “in compliance with the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States and limited by decisions of the United State Supreme Court or federal law” to demonstrate that they’re not proposing anything radical.

According to their press release, “polling will be conducted to see which version is most appealing to the voters of Missouri and that version will be used to collect signatures to place the question to voters.”

·       See the Sensible Missouri website here.

Bell Endorsements

St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell released his first round of endorsements as he pursues the Democratic nomination for US Senate…

Press release: Just weeks after announcing his US Senate run against Josh Hawley, Wesley Bell today released a list of endorsers, including Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, State Representative Deb Lavender, and ten mayors from St Louis County… The St. Louis County mayors who endorsed Bell include: Mayor Ella Jones, Ferguson; Mayor Amy Poelker, St Ann; Mayor Reggie Jones, Dellwood; Mayor Sharon Pace, Northwoods; Mayor James McGee, Vinita Park; Mayor Faye Millett, Pagedale; Mayor Brian Jackson, Beverly Hills; Mayor Michele DeShay, Moline Acres; Mayor Babatunde Deinbo, Berkeley; and Mayor Arnold Hinkle, Black Jack.

What It Means

It’s a start as Bell tries to get some traction and catch up with Lucas Kunce who’s been running for months now.  But there’s obviously no big monster endorsement like Kunce’s AFL-CIO.

Fitz Finds Sticky Fingers in Holland?

Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick released a damning audit of the City of Holland (population 194).

From the report: Jessica Roach served as Acting Mayor from at least December 2017 until April 19, 2021, when a new Mayor was elected and took office. Prior to becoming the Acting Mayor, Ms. Roach served as the City Clerk. However, upon becoming Acting Mayor she did not appoint aldermen to fill vacant Board positions or cause a special election in accordance with city code. This allowed her, and the part-time City Clerks during her tenure, to manage the city without Board oversight.

From January 1, 2018, through April 19, 2021, at least $69,029 of money and utility services was not deposited and/or was misappropriated from the city.

The Acting Mayor did not deposit city receipts totaling at least $66,480, and she did not pay for her utility services totaling $2,036 and city property taxes totaling $213. She also improperly paid herself $300. A review of the Acting Mayor's personal bank accounts noted large cash deposits totaling $66,194 that could indicate missing city cash receipts were deposited into her personal account.

·       Holland is represented by Sen. Jason Bean, and Rep. Cameron Parker.

Lobbyist Registrations

Jane Dueker added Safer St. Louis, LLC.   

Tim Green added Saint Luke's Health System.       

Jay Reichard and Noel Torpey added ACT Inc.    

Richard Brownlee deleted Missouri Insurance Coalition.

$5K+ Contributions

American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $100,000 from Heavy Constructors Association.