MOScout Weekender: Kehoe Raises $400K - Hallway on Ballot Issues - Who Won the Week and more…

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Kehoe’s Big Haul

Governor Mike Kehoe held a monster fundraiser Thursday in Springfield, hauling in – I’m told – around $400,000.  It was hosted by Lawana & Robert Low.  Low is founder and CEO of Prime Inc., one of Springfield’s biggest business names.

Other bold-faces names on the host committee:

·       Jan & Peter Herschend – owner of Silver Dollar City, Herschend served for many years on the State Board of Education.

·       Stacey & David O’Reilly – O’Reilly Auto Parts.

·       Mary Martha & Jim Hagale – Hagale is former president and COO of Bass Pro Shops.

·       Betsy & Jack Stack – Jack Stack is chairman and CEO of SRC Holdings.

·       Jeff Layman – Mizzou Board of Curators.

·       Mary Schrag – State Board of Education president.

·       Dorothy & Rudy Farber – Community Bank & Trust and previously chaired the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.

·       Donna & Steve Ehrhardt – chair of the Missouri Military Preparedness and Enhancement Commission.

·       Anna & Jim Ferguson – founder of Heart of America Beverage Co.

·       Laura & Gordon Kinne – founder of Med-Pay Inc.

·       Marisela & Jeff McConville – Corwin Ford of Springfield.

·       Kim & Phil Melugin – CEO of Phoenix Home Care and Hospice.

·       Lori & Darrel Wilson – founder of Wilson Logistics.

·       Malayna Woods & Joseph Passanise – Passanise is a prominent Springfield attorney.

Kehoe discussed the importance of passing Amendment 5 in August and Amendment 3 in November, and talked about how he still has more to do.

In other words, if it wasn’t obvious, he’s running for re-election in 2028.

MOScout’s Hallway Index: August Ballot

I asked lobbyists, “Which August ballot measure is most likely to be defeated?” 25 responses…

RESULTS

1. Amendment 1 (parks)… 0%

2. Amendment 2 (elected assessor)… 0%

3. Amendment 4 (IP)… 36%

4. Amendment 5 (Kehoe)… 60%

5. None. They will all pass… 4%

Sample of Comments

·       [A5] Amendment 5 will be lucky to get 43% of the vote.

·       They needed until November

·       [A5] I think folks are forgetting the contested D primary in St. Louis County. I’m betting turn out is much higher for D’s than would otherwise be expected. My gut says if that goes down, all but the soil tax fail. This is a 10 week sprint so let’s see what comes in against.

·       [A5] The amount of money spent on the no campaign will play a huge roll.

·       I think amend 5 will fail, there aren’t enough people who will benefit from it. I can’t understand this disconnect. We all know how the gov grew up…but somehow stadium packages trump tornado relief? Dog grooming as a solution to generational poverty? And a tax package that clearly raises taxes on the lowest earners? I’m lost.

·       It is a tough one to pick between income and IP

·       [A4] Realtors and Labor crush this one.

·       [A5] Hearing the money coming out against it - don't see how it makes it

·       [A5] should have put it as amendment 1 - voter fatigue is real and with more measures to vote on and longer summaries mean folks will just stop reading and vote no.

·       [A5] Half or more voters don't even pay income tax. Why would they want to saddle themselves with increased sales tax when instead of just soaking "the rich" (minority of voters who actually pay income taxes).

·       [A5] Very little grassroots passion behind it. A lot of passion against it.

·       [A4] Will have the most organized opposition and least funded support.

Who Won the Week?

House Dems – Governor Mike Kehoe’s decision to keep the abortion amendment (Amendment 3) on the November ballot is seen as trouble for suburban Republicans.

Supporters of legalized VLTs – Optimism is brewing for next session as the big money is already showing up… $600,000 from Torch Electronics, $335,000 from J & J Ventures, and $120,000 from Warrenton Oil Company.

Gina Mitten – Kehoe’s Police Board hands Mitten a gift as its arrogant behavior makes Steve Butz’ vote for state control look increasingly bad.

Mike Kehoe – $400,000 raised in Springfield this week.  Amendment 5 looks wobbly, but regardless, Kehoe’s on a glide path for a second term.

Find a downloadable version here.

Gubby Appts

Governor Mike Kehoe announced five gubernatorial appointments…

·       Robert Alpers was reappointed to the Clean Water Commission.

·       John Twitty was appointed to the Missouri Ethics Commission.

·       Susan Diraimondo was reappointed to the St. Louis City Board of Election Commissioners.

·       Tom Pirmantgen and John Scalise were appointed to the State Rehabilitation Council.

$5K+ Contributions

American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $15,000 from Lynn Thompson.

American Dream PAC - $10,000 from James Hagale.

Lead the Way PAC (pro-Vogel) - $18,183 from Steel Resolve PAC.

Heart of SGF PAC (pro-Stinnett) - $25,000 from J&J Ventures Gaming of Missouri LLC (Effingham, IL).

House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc - $50,000 from J&J Ventures Gaming of Missouri, LLC.

Protect Majority Rule Missouri - $150,000 from Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action.

Stop the Ban - $7,500 from Steve Klebe (San Mateo, CA).

Professional Fire Fighters of Eastern Missouri 2665 PAC Fund - $8,656 from Professional Firefighters of Eastern Missouri.

Best Start for Kids STL - $10,000 from Urban Sprouts.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Stacy Reliford, and Galen Higdon.

Sunday: Joan Barry and Ethan Todd.