MOScout Weekender: Wood Retiring - NEW GOP Statewide Poll - Hallway on Parson Legacy - WWTW and more...
Wood Retiring
Longtime MSTA lobbyist Mike Wood is retiring at the end of the year. Mike began his career as an elementary PE teacher. In 1995 he was hired by the Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA) as a field representative, registering as a lobbyist in 2001, and later becoming the Director of Government Affairs before forming his own company Michael Wood and Associates. Mike has been a trusted resource for both educators and legislators throughout his time in Jefferson City with a unique ability to referee some of the largest issues over the past 20 years.
And
Here’s the link to the job opening. “The Government Relations Manager serves as MSTA lobbyist, working with the Education Policy Director to manage the development and execution of education policy as outlined in MSTA Resolutions and/or the MSTA Board of Directors.”
Remington/MOScout Poll: GOP Statewide
Survey conducted September 27 through September 28, 2023. 714 likely 2024 Republican Primary voters participated in the survey. Survey weighted to match expected turnout demographics for the 2024 Republican Primary Election. Margin of Error is +/-3.4% with a 95% level of confidence. Totals do not always equal 100% due to rounding. Survey conducted by Remington Research Group on behalf of The Missouri Scout. Find the full results here.
July results in parenthesis.
Q1: Possible candidates in the Republican Primary for Governor are Jay Ashcroft, Bill Eigel, and Mike Kehoe. If the election were held today, for whom would you vote?
Jay Ashcroft: 32% (34%)
Bill Eigel: 5% (4%)
Mike Kehoe: 15% (14%)
Undecided: 48% (48%)
Q2: Possible candidates in the Republican Primary for Lieutenant Governor are Dean Plocher, Tim Baker, Paul Berry, and Holly Rehder. If the election were held today, for whom would you vote?
Dean Plocher: 5% (14%)
Tim Baker: 11% (n/a)
Paul Berry: 6% (n/a)
Holly Rehder: 20% (18%)
Undecided: 58% (68%)
Q3: Possible candidates in the Republican Primary for Secretary of State are Denny Hoskins, Caleb Rowden, and Shane Schoeller. If the election were held today, for whom would you vote?
Denny Hoskins: 15% (15%)
Caleb Rowden: 9% (7%)
Shane Schoeller: 9% (12%)
Undecided: 67% (66%)
Q4: Possible candidates in the Republican Primary for State Treasurer are Vivek Malek, Cody Smith, Lori Rook, and Andrew Koenig. If the election were held today, for whom would you vote?
Vivek Malek: 8% (6%)
Cody Smith: 9% (13%)
Lori Rook: 6% (n/a)
Andrew Koenig: 17% (13%)
Undecided: 60% (68%)
Q5: Possible candidates in the Republican Primary for Attorney General are Andrew Bailey and Will Scharf. If the election were held today, for whom would you vote?
Andrew Bailey: 26% (25%)
Will Scharf: 15% (14%)
Undecided: 59% (61%)
MOScout’s Hallway Index: Parson Legacy
I asked lobbyists, “What will be Mike Parson's legacy?” 18 replies…
RESULTS
1. Appointments to statewide offices… 16.7%
2. Investments in transportation… 44.4%
3. Managing the COVID crisis… 5.5%
4. Signing HB 126, outlawing abortions… 5.5%
5. Something else… 27.8%
Sample of Comments
· Not just statewide candidates, which seems to be historical, but I would add his judicial appointments to that category.
· All of the above. We are going to look back at the Parson administration as being one of the most successful Republican administrations of all time. History will remember him as finely as Kit Bond when all is said and done.
· Memories fade. Concrete lasts a generation.
· All good choices, but how he became Governor has been a lasting conversation
· Milquetoast. No profile in courage during a divisive time in government.
· Fitzpatrick, Kehoe, Schmitt (AG which propelled him to US Senate), Vivek.
· Has to be I-70
· I seen a lotta governors in my day, but I ain't never seen one with grammar and syntax quite like Mike's.
Who Won the Week?
Mike Kehoe – Ashcroft is still the front-runner; Eigel is still the wildcard. But Kehoe appears to have increased his money lead in the last three months which is probably the most important factor he can control.
Chris Dinkins – Dinkins has gotten a good start to her Senate campaign. An early check from Rex doesn’t hurt.
Kayla Hahn – A revision to the Evergy time of use rates implementation gives a huge boost to her upcoming confirmation hearing in January.
Caleb Rowden – Jonathan Ratliff says that Rowden has 7-figure commitments lined up. That’s as strong pre-announcement announcement as you can make before jumping into a statewide race.
Find a downloadable version here.
Gubby Appts
Governor Mike Parson announced new appointments…
· Ray Wagner, of Town and Country, was appointed to the Conservation Commission.
· Lorrie Duckworth, of Bloomfield, was appointed as the Stoddard County Public Administrator.
· Galen Ericson, of Blue Springs, was appointed to the Missouri Veterinary Medical Board.
· Jon Kerns, of Atlanta, was appointed as the Macon County Assessor.
$5K+ Contributions
Committee for Liberty (pro-Ashcroft) - $20,000 from Thomas Walsh.
Committee for Liberty - $20,000 from Victory Enterprises, Inc.
Committee for Liberty - $7,175 from Another Viceroy PAC.
American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $10,000 from Flagship Council Political Action Committee Inc.
American Dream PAC - $10,000 from Bommarito Nissan.
DougPac (pro-Beck) - $10,000 from Supporters of Health Research & Treatments.
Old Drum Conservative PAC (pro-Hoskins) - $10,000 from Paladin PAC.
Breakthru Beverage Missouri, LLC - $25,000 from Daniel Wirtz (Chicago, IL).
Majority Forward - $50,000 from Missouri and Kansas Laborer's PAC.
Committee to Elect Vincent Johnson (running for circuit judge) - $100,000 from Vincent Johnson.
Missourians for Healthy Families & Fair Wages - $26,953 from Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action.
Missourians for Effective Leadership PAC - $15,000 from Burns and McDonnell International Inc.
Forward Jackson County - $20,000 from McCown Gordan Construction.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Dave Muntzel, and Chris Benjamin.
Sunday: Sen. Sandy Crawford, Reps. Jo Doll and Melanie Stinnett, Andy Arnold, Tom Irwin, Steve Kraske, Kristy Manning, and Matthew Potter.