MOScout Daily Update: Whitaker to Bailey - Fitz Blasts Randolph - eMailbag and more…
Quick Friday update clearing out my in-box. I’m off for Memorable Day weekend. Be back on Tuesday…
Whitaker to Bailey
Stephanie Whitaker will be assuming the role of Communications Director for Attorney General Andrew Bailey next week after the holiday.
· Whitaker is currently the Communications Director for the House Majority Caucus.
Fitz Blasts Randolph County
Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick published an audit of Randolph County, giving them a “poor” rating. Among his findings…
· The County Clerk failed to publish sample ballots for elections held in the county in accordance with state law.
· The County Clerk reported incorrect assessed valuation totals for the 2024 tax year to the SAO and the taxing entities for all 39 property tax levies assessed by 24 taxing entities in the county. As a result, the entities' calculations of the allowable tax rate ceilings may not be accurate. For 1 jurisdiction, the County Clerk entered the assessed valuation of personal property in the jurisdiction as $15.1 million instead of $151.1 million...
· The County Commission authorized mid-term salary increases to the Sheriff totaling $42,804 as of December 2024, in violation of constitutional provisions and state law.
Randoph County is represented by Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin and Reps. Ed Lewis and Tim Taylor.
And
According to the State Auditor website, Fitzpatrick has begun an audit of the “St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority and Use of Rams Settlement Funds.”
eMailbag on Grades
Melanie Stinnett did an outstanding job collaborating with the true pro-life movement to create a thoughtful package that honored the opinions of Missouri voters while striving to enhance the safety of reproductive healthcare. It takes real courage to navigate the middle ground, and ultimately, it was the far-right that chose to part ways with her approach… She had a lot of support from her colleagues, but unfortunately, the Senate's willingness to bend over backwards for Susan Klein stopped all middle ground discussions.
Bond Funeral
This yikers of a text hit my in-box yesterday… At Kit [Bond]’s funeral service on Thursday, [Dave] Wasinger came in after the service had already started, and after family were seated….after the intro music had begun and as the casket was brought forward. Wasinger entered late, smiling, oblivious, and then walked along the front row shaking hands before he found his seat in the third row. It was offensive to those who had worked diligently to make the service worthy of Missouri’s favorite son.
Show Missouri Truth
Former Rep. Deb Lavender is term limited, but still organizing…
Squirrel Season Opening…
Somehow not as big a deal as deer season or turkey season, squirrel season opens tomorrow.
eMailbag
Let’s recap: Senate leadership just PQ’d, twice, but a State Senator in the minority party who has the stadium in her area says she won’t vote for Governor Kehoe’s responsible call to keep it in Missouri unless she gets back her items in the Capitol Projects appropriation bill that failed to pass, and this is what the conservative House is going to accept after playing hardball all session?
$5K+ Contributions
St Louis County Democratic Central Committee - $21,866 from Sheraton Westport Chalet.
CN-MO PAC - $175,000 from Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits of Missouri (Miami, FL).
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Zach Monroe, Meredith Shadwick, and Taisir Yanis.
Saturday: Sam Page, Jake Hummel, Heather Navarro, Byron DeLear, and Gregg Christian.
Sunday: Amy Blouin, Tim Jones, Gus Wagner, and Jason Hall.
Monday: Reps Raychel Proudie and Renee Reuter, Jeanie Riddle, and Eric Wilson.
MOScout Schedule
I’m off for Memorable Day weekend. Be back in your in-box on Tuesday…