MOScout Daily Update: Gatsch In for Senate 6 - Clay Passes - Dem Senate Outlook - Owens Pens Thriller and more…
Quick Friday update….
Breaking… Gatsch in Senate 6
Former Rep. Chuck Gatschenberger, who earlier told me that he was considering a bid in Senate 6, now tells me that he’s officially in.
Senate Dems Cheer July Quarters
As I wrote on Wednesday, there are only 3 state senate districts that appear to be in play next year. Otherwise, all the senate races will be decided in the primaries.
Two of those three are currently held by Republicans. And Dems are encouraged by the early outlook of those races.
In Senate 8, where Sen. Mike Cierpiot is termed, Republicans look like they have a fierce primary shaping up. There are four candidates mentioned: Speaker Jon Patterson, former Rep. Dan Stacy, businesswoman Jennifer Monheiser, and businessman Jeff Martin. The conventional wisdom is that Republican primaries drive candidates farther right than the general electorate in these swing districts.
· Meanwhile, Democratic Rep. Keri Ingle looks to have the Dem side all to herself. She needs to keep stockpiling money. Her July quarter showed $30,135 raised; $8,156 spent; and $91,284 on-hand.
In Senate 30, where Sen. Lincoln Hough termed, Rep. Melanie Stinnett appears to have a primary challenge brewing from Brian Gelner, who previously ran for a different district.
hasn’t formed a committee.
Again, Dems like their candidate here. Rep. Betsy Fogle has consolidated Dem support and put up a great first quarter. Fogel outraised Stinnett.
· Fogle raised $84,423; spent $2,001; and has $146,367 on-hand.
· And her PAC, Forward PAC, has more cash on-hand ($64,562) than Stinnett’s ($29,342).
Clay Passes
Congressman Bill Clay passed away.
From Sylvester Brown’s article in The St. Louis American… He was the fourth of Irving and Luella Clay’s seven children. At the time of his birth, the Clays lived in a four-family flat on Eighth Street before moving to an apartment at 11th and Carr streets. The Clays lived in segregated neighborhoods like the rest of Black St. Louisans in those days.
· In 1949, Bill Clay started his freshman year at St. Louis University which had just integrated, allowing Black people and white women to enroll…
· After joining the local branch of the NAACP, Clay became known as an avid community organizer. He was often among the throngs of protestors picketing restaurants, organizing sit-ins and pressuring businesses to hire Black people.
· In 1963, Clay ran for an open seat in the First Congressional District. He was the first African American to win that seat. He served for more than three decades. Some of his accomplishments included co-founding the Congressional Black Caucus, sponsoring the Family and Medical Leave Act, which became law in 1993…
Body-Cam Contract
Post-Dispatch reports on the first meeting of the new St. Louis City Police Board. See it here.
Among the agenda items: a $6 million contract for police body-cams. “Utility Associates Inc., out of Decatur, Georgia, beat out Axon Enterprise Inc., of Scottsdale, Arizona, following months of controversy over the contract. The three-year deal is for 800 body cameras and 275 in-car cameras.”
· Notch this as another win for David Sweeney, Utility Associates’ lobbyist.
Kleckner Joins Lakin Firm
Press release: Objective Strategies, a strategy agency specializing in integrated B2C, B2B, and B2G solutions for mid-market companies, has named Michael Kleckner as Chief Client Officer…
· A seasoned strategist, Kleckner previously led his own consultancy, Kleck, and most recently served with political consulting firm Victory Enterprises, where he provided strategic communications and policy research to a broad range of clients….
Owen Pens ‘Wicked’ Thriller
Renew Missouri’s James Owen has written a true-crime book about a former boss of his that was murdered in Springfield.
The Wicked Among Us: Murder, Blackmail, and Book Collecting in the Ozarks is about the murder of Rolland Comstock. “This intimate true crime tale not only seeks to resolve the question of who killed this man but also to examine his life as well. Beneath his quirky personality, there were secrets and turmoil at odds with the ultra-conservative community Rolland called home. Some were wicked enough to say Rolland got what he deserved.”
Lobbyists Registrations
Rachel Geilenfeld added Archer Daniels Midland Corporation.
$5K+ Contributions
Respect Missouri Voters PAC - $25,839 from Show Me Integrity Education Fund.
Respect Missouri Voters PAC - $7,428 from Show Me Integrity Education Fund.
Respect Missouri Voters PAC - $10,500 from Show Me Integrity.
Sander For Missouri - $8,542 from Christopher Sander.
Political Action Committee for Health - HEALTHPAC - $10,450 from SWMO Healthcare Committee.
Missouri Realtors PAC Inc - $7,200 from T David Rogers.
Missouri Cattlemens Association PAC - $10,000 from Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council.
Greater Springfield Realtor Party PAC - $10,680 from Missouri Realtors PAC, Inc.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Becky Cook, Jim Gwinner, and Charlie Davis.