MOScout Daily Update: Kehoe Set to Appoint STL Police Board - Reed in Senate 4? - Vogel in Senate 6? - Willett’s Big Ask and more…
Kehoe Set to Announce STL Police Board
This afternoon, Governor Mike Kehoe will announce his appointments to the new St. Louis City Board of Police Commissioners, as constituted under HB 495 which was passed last session.
According to the new law, Kehoe has five appointments to make. The sixth member of the board will be Mayor Cara Spencer.
· One of Kehoe’s appointments will be a non-voting citizen member, who doesn’t have to be a City resident. The other four will be voting members and must be City residents.
· All of Kehoe’s appointments will face Senate confirmation. And “no commissioner shall be nominated for or hold any other elective or appointed political office.”
What It Means
Kehoe wanted it. He’s got it. He now owns St. Louis City’s crime stats for better or for worse.
Reed for Senate 4?
Senate 4 (Sen. Karla May termed) could get a lot more interesting. Right now, there’s three declared candidates: Rep. Steve Butz, former Rep. Gina Mitten, and Legislative Assistant Blaine Folsom.
But one reader says that “some are also floating Rep. Ray Reed, who is known to have higher aspirations, for the race.”
What It Means
If Reed did enter, it might be seen as undercutting Mitten’s recently announced campaign as his district lays in the St. Louis County area that she is probably viewing as her stronghold.
Vogel in Senate 6?
Jake Vogel is telling lobbyists that he’s running Senate 6. That’s where Sen. Mike Bernskoetter is termed. There’s already a full field there. Rep. Rudy Veit, and former Jefferson City Councilman Derrick Spicer are declared; Katie Ashcroft is rumored to be prepping a run; and former Rep. Lisa Thomas is floated as a possible candidate as well.
· Vogel is the son of the late Carl Vogel, who served in the Senate. And like his father before him, Vogel is the president of the Jefferson City Coca-Cola Bottling Company.
What It Means
Vogel brings name ID, but it’s early and this is a wideeee open race.
Willett’s Big Ask
Nathan Willett, running in Senate 34 where Sen. Tony Leutkemeyer is termed, has a pretty big ask in his first fundraiser…
One MOScouter: Maybe he thinks he can scare off Brenda Shields and any others. I have never seen a new candidate put out an invite with 50K at top. Not even sure I’ve ever seen it.
Wiemann to Consolidated Health Plan
John Wiemann was named the new executive director of the Missouri Consolidated Health Plan.
· Wiemann bio: A lifelong Missourian, he represented District 103 in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2015 to 2022, serving the last four years as Speaker Pro Tempore. He was also president & CEO of Midwest Physicians Insurance Advisors from 2009 to 2022 and most recently served as Vice President of Operations and Strategic Initiatives at St. Charles Community College.
Realtors Back Cox Antwi
The National Association of Realtors Fund sent $23,715 direct mail in support of Jami Cox Antwi. See the MEC filing here. Cox Antwi is running in a five-way special election next week for the St. Louis aldermanic seat vacated by Cara Spencer when she won her mayoral race.
Help Wanted
MOST Policy Initiative seeks Executive Director. MOST’s goal is to support evidence-based decision making for all Missourians by providing accessible scientific research for free and in a way that is easy to understand. The Executive Director at MOST holds a strategic, public-facing leadership position and also manages the organization’s team, overseeing internal, day-to-day research initiatives and comprehensive deliverables.
eMailbag: Missouri Chiefs?
Seems to me that the massive infusion of money for the Chiefs should make them the Missouri Chiefs. The least the Hunt’s can do is a regular season game in St. Louis plus exhibition games in St. Louis, Cape Girardeau and Springfield.
$5K+ Contributions
House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $15,000 from Charter Communications.
Lobbyist Registrations
Andy Blunt deleted Lake Ozark Marine Dealers Association, Microsoft Corporation, Missouri Asphalt Pavement Association, Missouri County Collectors Association, Missouri Health Connection, Missouri Marine Dealers Association, Apollo Global Management Inc, Altria Client Services LLC and its Affiliates-Philip Morris USA Inc., John Middleton Co., U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co., Helix Innovations LLC, and NJOY LLC, Sheriff's Retirement System, Tenaska, BDT Capital Partners LLC, Indivior, Meta Platforms Inc. (formerly Facebook) , and Expedia Group.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Kevin Engler, Rachel Hassani, Nick King, and Steve Harmon.