MOScout Daily Update: Trent for Asst Floor - Missey to Leave Childrens Division - Senate 11 in Play? SAPA Tossed - Arnzen to NAMIC and more…
Missey To Resign
Darrell Missey, the head of the Childrens’ Division, is stepping down. It’s a big job, handing the state’s efforts to prevent child abuse, provide services for families and oversee foster care and adoption.
And it’s a tough one as well. I believe Missey is the 8th director of the division in the last 11 years. It takes special skills to lead a big organization. Bureaucracies are resistant to change, internal battles and turf wars make it difficult implement improvements.
Missey is the third highest paid employee of the Department of Social Services ($177,000 in 2023) behind HealthNet Director Todd Richardson and the Department head Robert Knodell.
· It is also possible he may elevate deputy director Joan Rogers. She stepped in after David Wood’s resignation in 2020.
Trent for Asst Floor
Sen. Curtis Trent announced that he’s running for Assistant Floor Leader of the Senate. In his letter to colleagues (see it here), he quotes the Bible to explain how he views leadership.
I also strongly believe that service is what this position calls out for. In the Bible, Mark 9:35-36, the Lord made clear that “if any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.” While said in a different context, this sentiment holds true in all walks of life. Those who want to lead should put on a cloak of humility and servitude, exerting their efforts for the good of the institution, of the membership, the constitution, and above all the people of Missouri.
· In the Senate, the graduated steps up the leadership path are less fixed than in the House. Still, for Trent, becoming Assistant Floor Leader would put him in a position to make a bid for Floor Leader in two years.
Senate 11 Up For Grabs?
When the Senate lines were redrawn for redistricting it seemed pretty clear that the seat of Republican Senate Leader Caleb Rowden (Senate 19) would be flipping Democratic, and the seat of the Democrats’ Minority Leader, John Rizzo (Senate 11), would turn red.
However, the emergence of Joe Nicola from the Republican primary has some thinking that Senate 11 is definitely in play for Dems.
· Nicola only raised about $80,000 during his primary, and he presumably spent that down close to zero. The Democratic candidate, Rep. Robbie Sauls, has over $400,000 in the bank between his candidate committee and his PAC.
· While Nicola’s firebrand, Freedom Caucus-ish rhetoric worked with Republican primary voters, how will it play in the larger pool of general election voters with more Independents? And Nicola doesn’t seem like a fellow who would “pivot” his messaging.
Ultimately, this may end up being an issue of resources. Dems need to defend Senate 17 (Maggie Nurrenbern against Jerry Nolte, a great retail politician). Will they still have enough firepower to sustain challenges in bother Senate 11 and Senate 15 (Joe Pereles against David Gregory). And Senate 15 is better by the numbers for Dems. Trump won Senate 15 by 50.9% in 2020, but won Senate 11 by 54.5% that same year.
SAPA Tossed
Missouri Independent reports that SAPA was declared “unconstitutional because it violates the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause, a federal appeals court in St. Louis unanimously ruled on Monday. A three-judge panel of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a district court ruling from last year that blocked Missouri from enforcing the Second Amendment Preservation Act, a law passed in 2021 that penalizes police for enforcing certain federal gun laws.”
· In a statement through his spokeswoman, [Attorney General Andrew] Bailey said he is reviewing the decision. He added: “I will always fight for Missourians’ Second Amendment rights.”
Arnzen to NAMIC
In the lobbyists registrations (below) Phillip Arnzen deregistered for the Missouri Chamber of Commerce. According to LinkedIn, he’s starting a new position as Regional Vice President of Government Affairs - Midwest at National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC).
Help Wanted
MoDOT Seeks Governmental Relations Director. Only applicants currently employed by the Missouri Department of Transportation will be considered for this position… The Governmental Relations Director serves as the liaison between the department, the congressional delegation, and Missouri legislature through the exchange of information regarding proposed legislation affecting the department; coordinates responses by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission and department leaders with elected and appointed officials at all levels of government… salary: $130,969.
Lobbyists Registrations
Phillip Arnzen deleted Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Fred Dreiling deleted Hickman Mills School District.
$5K+ Contributions
Fearless PAC (pro-Pereles) - $5,200 from Drury Development Corporation.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Scott Swain, Kit Crancer, Austin Walker, Jefferson Thomas, Garry Olson, and Tom Flanigan.