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DEF is a non-partisan, independent political blog based in the
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on lawmakers, their policies, and those that have influence upon
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State Senator Jeff Smith, whose sponsorship is needed for Derio Gambaro to be confirmed in January, issued the following statement today:
"Derio Gambaro was a worthy opponent in our race for the 4th District Senate seat and a dedicated public servant during his tenure in the state House.
"However, given the specificity with which I outlined my substantive concerns about the Governor's earlier nominee, I am disappointed that the administration chose to ignore rather than address the issues I raised. It is unfortunate as well that the administration refused my repeated offers for consultation on this appointment, particularly since I worked throughout the session in a bipartisan fashion on education issues.
"Since it is important that the city be represented on the State board, I will look forward to learning more about Mr. Gambaro's educational philosophy and qualifications."
Mayor Francis Slay, Police Chief Joe Mokwa and State Rep. Rodney Hubbard are among the supporters listed today for DerioGambaro, Governor Matt Blunt's latest appointment to the State Board of Education.
"Derio Gambaro has been a true civic leader in the City of St. Louis," Slay is quoted on press release passed out at today's announcement.
"Whether working at the neighborhood level, leading our Election Board, or serving as a State Representative, Derio has lead with conviction and compassion. I am pleased that he will be serving as St. Louis' representative on the State Board of Education. I am certain he will be a champion for Missouri's children and advocate for quality public education," said Slay.
Joining the praise for Gambaro was Chief Mokwa and State Rep. Hubbard.
"I support his appointment to the State Board of Education and believe he will be a strong advisory for Missouri's children and for public education in our state," said Mokwa.
"I think Governor Blunt has made an outstanding choice in Derio Gambaro for this very important board," Hubbard is quoted as saying.
"Derio has the respect and admiration of his community, and will act to ensure that Missouri's students receive the best education our state has to offer," said Hubbard.
Other statements of support came from two high ranking Republicans, Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons (who also attended today's event along with State Rep. Jane Cunningham) and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder.
Because it is a recess appointment, Gambaro will join the Board immediately. However, come January, his appointment is subject to Senate confirmation within 30 days for a term ending on July 1, 2012.
Check back later for video from today's announcement.
In this exclusive PubDef video from June 2006, Derio Gambaro and the other then-candidates for the State Senate discuss their views on St. Louis Public Schools.
Gambaro: "I've always fought for St. Louis Public Schools. I will continue to fight the fight for St. Louis Public Schools. But until they receive full accreditation, it's imperative that we give our parents and our children choices in their education."
As you know, SLPS is scheduled to be stripped ov its accreditation in one week.
Governor Matt Blunt will hold a press conference to announce the appointment of former State Rep. Derio Gambaro to the State Board of Education, which we first reported yesterday, at the site of Gambaro's longstanding family business in south St. Louis.
The Governor will be in "The Hill" neighborhood today at the Missouri Bakery, 2027 Edwards St., at 1:45 p.m. The Bakery was founded by Gambaro's grandfather and uncles in 1924.
One woman — young, white and wealthy — is sentenced to serve 45 days in jail for probation violation. After serving only three days of her sentence, she complains about a tummy ache and is set free to serve the remainder of her sentence in her mansion.
Another woman — young, black and poor — is arrested for a traffic warrant and even after her boyfriend posts bond, she remains in jail. When she has an asthma attack in her cell, she receives substandard medical care and dies that night.
PubDef has learned that Gov. Matt Blunt will be appointing former State Rep. Derio Gambaro to the State Board of Education tomorrow.
Gambaro represented south St. Louis in the House of Representatives for two terms between 1998 and 2000. In 2006, Gambaro ran in a crowded field of candidates to replace term-limited Pat Dougherty in the State Senate. He finished third in the race, behind political science instructor Jeff Smith and State Rep. Yaphett El-Amin.
In these two videos from June 2006 Gambaro sounded very critical of existing charter schools in St. Louis, particularly Confluence Academies which Smith co-founded.
During the campaign Gambaro was often criticized for supporting a scholarship program which many called a thinly-veiled school voucher program. He was also criticized for accepting financial support from Rex Sinquefield, a wealthy backer of school choice efforts in Missouri.
Because Blunt will be making the appointment while the State Legislature is on recess, Gambaro will immediately join the Board. However, when the Senate returns in January, Gambaro will have to be nominated sponsored by his state senator, Jeff Smith.
Smith tells PubDef that he just learned of Gambaro's appointment today and has not decided whether he will support his former opponent next year. He said there are still some outstanding issues on which he would still like to see where Gambaro stands.
In the meantime, it looks like Gambaro will have several months on the Board to show Smith and everyone else where he stands on a whole range of education issues before he is up for confirmation.
Following Missouri Attorney General (and likely Democratic nominee for Governor) Jay Nixon's decision not file criminal charges against Ameren for the Taum Sauk dam collapse, state Republicans are continuing their cries of conflict of interest.
Nixon accepted $19,000 in campaign donations from sources connected to Ameren. Following GOP attacks and media reports across the state, Nixon says he has since returned the money.
In their latest attack, Republicans point to an Associated Press report that a 2,000-page report provided to Nixon by the Missouri Highway Patrol informed the Attorney General that "an unknown Ameren employee" removed probes designed to shut down the plant and prevent an overflow if water ever reached them immediately after the Taum Sauk disaster.
Republicans say Nixon made the decision not to file charges without identifying the Ameren employee, referred to as "Mr. X", who removed that critical evidence in the scene of the "worst man-made disaster in Missouri's history".
"The Attorney General, who is acting Reynolds County Prosecutor in the criminal investigation, can request subpoenas to force Ameren or Mr. X to come forward," charged a GOP press release.
"Missourians are owed an explanation as to why Jay Nixon, the criminal prosecutor in the Ameren Taum Sauk case, failed to identify Ameren's Mr. X," said Jared Craighead, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party.
"Even though the Missouri Highway Patrol provided his office with a thorough, 2,000 page report, Nixon failed to follow up on a critical lead: the identity of the Ameren employee, and potential suspect, who removed critical evidence from the scene of a disaster. It is also unknown if Nixon requested a subpoena to learn the identity of Mr. X."
"Reasonable people are entitled to believe that a competent criminal prosecutor would have been interested in knowing the identity of Mr. X," Craighead said. "Nixon's incompetence in the Taum Sauk case is truly breathtaking," Craighead said.
In the meantime, the AP reports that state utility regulators are reopening their investigation into Taum Sauk after learning that Ameren readjusted crucial safety gauges at the facility and removed the gauges after the basin collapsed.
YouTube, which PubDef.net uses to post and play our videos, has just added a cool new scroll-through feature on its player that shows related videos.
It's fun to play with and lets you discover new, related videos without leaving our site. Just hover over the video after pressing "play" and watch the magic unfold. Here, try it with our most popular video ever...
And by clicking the "menu" button, you can easily access the code to embed our videos on your own site or the URL to link directly to it.
As I sit here blogging in a Panera Bread in southeast Missouri, I'm looking across at a man sitting with his girlfriend at a nearby table.
He's wearing a sleeveless white t-shirt with a large red and blue Confederate Flag across the back. Above it reads, "If you're offended by this shirt..." Below it concludes, "then you don't know your history."
Welcome to Cape Girardeau, MO.
Don't ask why I'm here. Just rest assured in the same knowledge that keeps me from walking over to the next table to play Principal Joe Clark to this misinformed youth; I will be home in a few hours.
Following yesterday's ruling by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that Missouri's practice of execution by lethal injection is not cruel or unusual punishment, Governor Matt Blunt voiced his agreement with the Court's decision.
"In the interest of protecting Missourians, I am pleased the court ruled in favor of the state’s limited, reasonable and effectively enforced death penalty and I am directing the Department of Corrections to prepare execution procedures in compliance with the ruling," said Blunt.
The ruling by the three-judge panel allows for the resumption of executions in Missouri, overturning the moratorium placed by U.S. District Judge Fernando Gaitan prior to and during the Circuit Court case.
Washington University announced yesterday that it is investing over $55 million in a new renewable energy initiative that centers around the establishment of a new International Center for Advanced Renewable Energy and Sustainability (I-CARES).
I-CARES is to "encourage and coordinate university-wide and external collaborative research in the areas of renewable energy and sustainability — including biofuels, CO2 mitigation and coal-related issues," according to the statement released by the university.
Chancellor Mark Wrighton described the project as interdisciplinary, noting that it pulls together experts in genomics, microbiology, plant science, materials, environmental engineering, systems science, computer science, economics, political science, architecture and social work.
According to the press release, the $55 million is to be split to fund:
$40 million for a new building for the Washington University Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering.
$12.5 million for five new endowed professorships over the long term in related fields.
$2.5 million over five years to promote regional collaboration on the issues.
$500,000 for collaborative projects with international partners.
Support a sustainability officer and provide the capital needed to apply green technology to improve efficiency of energy systems and other university operations.
Just this past spring, the University spent $16,186 to install seven solar panels on the roof of the Olin Library on its Danforth Campus to provide renewable power to the building.
The Appellate Judicial Commission now is accepting applications for the position of judge of the Supreme Court of Missouri, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Ronnie L. White, effective July 6. Judge White has served more than 11 years on the Court.
Applications may be filed until 5 p.m. Monday, July 9, 2007, but earlier submission is encouraged. The commission will meet Tuesday and Wednesday, July 24 and 25, 2007, in Columbia, Mo., to conduct interviews and to select a panel of three applicants for submission to the governor.
Interested persons may download an application and accompanying rules and instructions from the Missouri Courts website listed under Quicklinks, "Judicial Vacancies." All applicants, including those who have applied previously for other vacancies, must file a new application.
The Missouri Constitution requires that a judge of the Supreme Court be at least 30 years old, licensed to practice law in Missouri, a United States citizen for at least 15 years and a qualified Missouri voter for at least nine years next preceding selection.
According to Acting School Board President Bill Purdy, a petition was filed today in the Circuit Court of Cole County challenging the lawfulness of the State Board of Education's decision to strip St. Louis Public Schools of its accreditation.
"This petition alleges that the State Board’s determination that the District is unaccredited is unlawful, arbitrary and capricious," wrote Purdy in an email.
Purdy says the petition argues:
There is no valid rule which establishes the MSIP criteria being used to un-accredit the District;
The Performance Standards used by DESE and the State Board are "impermissibly vague";
The State Board acted "arbitrarily and capriciously" in applying standards to the District because the same consideration and actions have not and are not applied to other similarly situated Missouri School Districts;
The action taken by DESE and the State Board is unconstitutional; and
There are many uncertainties and ambiguities relating to the Transitional District statutes which make the statutes unconstitutionally vague.
Purdy says Jefferson City Attorney Johnny Richardson of the firm of Brydon, Swearengen & England filed the petition on behalf of the School Board. Attorney Kenneth Brostron of longtime SLPS legal firm Lashly & Baer rounds out the district's legal team.
Rick Sullivan, the Chesterfield real estate developer selected by Gov. Matt Blunt to run the city schools after it is stripped of its accreditation on June 15, met with members of the Aldermanic Black Caucus Friday in the Congressional Room of City Hall.
According to an attendee, Sullivan told the aldermen that he'll be there to be the CEO of the district, not the education leader.
He spoke candidly about his lack of educational background and said he's not planning to get directly involved in the education decisions of the district. Sullivan said he doesn't expect his lack of experience in public education to be a hindrance.
During the 30-minute meeting, most aldermen seemed to follow the lead of freshman Ald. Marlene Davis, a former president of the St. Louis School Board, according to sources.
One alderman tells PubDef.net that the Caucus members seemed generally satisfied with Sullivan's answers.
"Most felt like we have to give the transitional board a chance," said the alderman. "We don't have much choice."
Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson was indicted today on federal charges of racketeering, soliciting bribes and money-laundering. Readers may recall that back in 2005, the FBI raided Jefferson's home and found $90,000 in cash in his freezer.
According to the AP, the 63-year-old Democrat maintains his innocence. He was re-elected last year despite the looming investigation.
Back in September, PubDef.net photographed Jefferson in a happier moment, "Electric Sliding" with California Congresswoman (and St. Louis native) Maxine Waters in Washington D.C.
If you've ever wanted to see drunken public employees Karaoke the night away, here's your chance.
St. Louis City Recorder of Deeds Sharon Quigley Carpenter will be hosting her 28th Annual Loyal Staff Party tonight at Johnny Gitto's, 6997 Chippewa, from 5:30 "until".
The annual fundraiser will feature beer, a "Trash and Treasure" raffle, more beer, Karaoke, and probably some more beer. Requested donations start at $25.
As for the Karaoke, according to invitation, impersonations of American Idol's infamous SanjayaMalakar are strictly prohibited under Loyal Staff™ Party Code 6.2.(a)3.
Gov. Matt Blunt opened the three-day Southern Growth Conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at Union Station yesterday with a presentation on Southern workforce challenges. Blunt is the current chairman of the Southern Growth Policies Board.
That begs the question, "When did Missouri become a Southern state?"
According to the organization's website, there are 13 state members -- Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia — plus the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (which is convenient since nearly 50 state legislators are heading there next week on the the state's dime, but more on that later).
