On Wednesday Gov. Matt Blunt approved the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission’s nomination of Omar Davis to serve as the new director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Davis, of Jefferson City, is the director of Legal Services Division and general counsel for the Department of Revenue. Davis previously served as Deputy General Counsel in the governor’s office and Securities Enforcement Council for Blunt when he was Secretary of State.

Davis, 32, holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Kansas State University and a juris doctorate from the University of Missouri School of Law.

Davis’ appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.

Yesterday Blunt also nominated Rod Chapel, the current director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations whom Davis will replace, to a six-year term on the Missouri Administrative Hearing Commission.

Prior to his role as the head of the DLIR, Chapel worked as the Legal Services Division Director and general counsel for the Department of Revenue.

Chapel, 37, previously served as an associate in the Sly James Law Firm. Mr. Chapel holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Oklahoma State University, a juris doctorate from Tulane Law School and a master of laws in taxation from Washington University School of Law.

Chapel will replace Terry Jarrett. His nomination is subject to Senate confirmation for a term ending September 12, 2013.

PUB DEF EXCLUSIVE

In the following two-page letter from Governor Matt Blunt to the Missouri Senate, the names of 10 different appointees were pulled from consideration. According to sources, only two (SLPS CEO Rick Sullivan and State Board of Education appointee Derio Gambaro) were pulled because of controversy. The others, including Harris-Stowe University regent Wayman Smith, were pulled because they were unable to make the Senate hearing or some other minor reason.

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Blunt will likely re-appoint most, if not all, of the people on this list following the end of this special session of the Missouri Legislature. The Senate would then take up these appointments again during their regular session next year.

However, it is still not known whether Sullivan or Gambaro’s senators (Jeff Smith and Joan Bray, respectively) will be willing to support their appointments next session either.

Governor Matt Blunt will soon choose from among three members of the Missouri Court of Appeals for his first appointment to the Missouri Supreme Court.

The Appellate Judicial Commission selected the finalists from among 30 applicants to replace Ronnie White, who recently resigned from the court to go into private practice.

The finalists are Judge Nannette Baker of the Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District and Western District Judges Patricia Breckenridge and Ronald Holliger. Baker and Holliger were both appointed to their current posts by Democratic governors while Breckenridge is a Republican appointee.

White was the first and only black member of the state high court. Baker is the lone African-American among the finalists. Blunt has 60 days to make his selection. If he fails to do so, the commission will make the appointment.

UPDATE: Blunt’s office today requested information on all the applicants. Here’s the press release…

Gov. Matt Blunt’s office today requested any transcripts, notes and information gathered by the Appellate Judicial Commission as they narrowed a field of 30 applicants to a three member panel. The request is part of the exhaustive process in motion to learn more about and evaluate the legal work of the three names submitted to the governor as candidates for the Missouri Supreme Court.

“As you might imagine, details from these interviews will be very helpful to our office as we begin our own exhaustive interview process,” wrote Henry Herschel, General Counsel for the governor in a letter. “I am sure you will agree that any interview transcripts, audio recordings, notes, format, length and any additional information from these interviews will be helpful to us as the governor prepares to make this important decision.”

The office has requested:

• Any transcripts and/or audio recordings and notes from every interview with every applicant
• Information on meeting and interview times, locations and length
• Details of notice provided regarding all commission meetings and interviews
• Insight into the questions presented to the applicants including whether they were standardized and what questions were included or given priority

The governor’s office acknowledged receipt of the applications submitted by the three candidates, but noted it did not include this information. Once the governor’s office receives the documents, they will compile this information with all available records, research and communications to aide the governor in making his final decision.

In Missouri, the governor does not appoint a judge to the Supreme Court from citizens at large. Instead an Appellate Judicial Commission, made up of the presiding chief justice, three lawyers chosen by the Missouri Bar and three people appointed by governors, selects a panel of three candidates. Gov. Blunt has appointed only one of the three commissioners, and the others were appointed by former Gov. Bob Holden. The governor has 60 days to evaluate the three nominated candidates to the Supreme Court.

At an event yesterday in O’Fallon Park in north St. Louis, Gov. Matt Blunt announced the appointment of Don R. Johnson to the Conservation Commission. Johnson is the first African American to hold the position.

State Senators Maida Coleman (D-St. Louis City) and Michael Gibbons (R-Kirkwood) were also at the event.

Video shot by intern Gabe Bullard

Derio Gambaro was sworn-in today as the newest member of the State Board of Education. Gambaro’s appointment is subject to Senate approval next year.

The Governor is looking for Missourians to serve on state boards and commissions.

“I encourage Missourians to explore our state’s boards and commissions and apply for an appointment that allows them to use their God-given talents to help enhance the services we deliver to Missourians each and every day,” Gov. Matt Blunt said in a statement today.

The governor has appointment authority to more than 200 boards and commissions. Some boards require specialized skill sets, sponsorship by their state senator and advice and consent of the Missouri Senate. 

For an application and more information on Missouri’s boards and commissions visit www.gov.mo.gov/boards/boardsapp.htm.

Gov. Matt Blunt today announced the appointment of Angeletta McCormick Franks to serve as director of the Office of Supplier and Workforce Diversity.

Franks previously served as a commissioner on the St. Louis City Election Board and as an aide to former U.S. Senator Jim Talent as a community liaison.

Franks will also serve as a special assistant to chief of staff Ed Martin and will be part of the governor’s senior staff.

The Office of Supplier and Workforce Diversity works to promote diversity within the state government and improve the opportunities for women and minorities to access state employment opportunities and state contracts. The office serves as a resource to further improve business and economic opportunities for Missouri’s women-owned and minority-owned businesses.

Following the retirement of executive director Kim Norman, Edmund Hennessey has been named the new head of Weed & Seed St. Louis.

According to the Department of Justice’s website, the Weed & Seed initiative involves a two-pronged approach: law enforcement agencies and prosecutors cooperate in “weeding out” violent criminals and drug abusers and public agencies and community-based private organizations collaborate to “seed” much-needed human services, including prevention, intervention, treatment, and neighborhood restoration programs.

The City of St. Louis today has two active Weed & Seed neighborhoods: Hamilton Heights and the West End.

Governor Matt Blunt has reappointed Wayman F. Smith (D), 66 of St. Louis City, to the Board of Regents of Harris-Stowe State University.

Smith is a former St. Louis alderman and an attorney with Smith Partnership. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Monmouth University and a juris doctorate from Howard University. His reappointment is subject to Senate confirmation for a term ending on July 28, 2012.

Blunt also announced the appointment of:

Dr. John B. Heskett, 59 of St. Louis, to the Mental Health Transformation Working Group. His appointment is for a term ending at the pleasure of the governor.

Darrell B. Roegner, 67 of Lake St. Louis, to the Missouri State Penitentiary Redevelopment Commission. Roegner is regional president of Premier Bank. His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation for a term ending on March 3, 2008.

And Jimmy Dale Morris, 72 of Springfield, to the Missouri Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Morris is owner of Morris Oil Company, Inc. His appointment is for a term ending on Nov. 15, 2007.

From PresidentReed.com:

ST. LOUIS — President of the Board of Aldermen Lewis Reed today announced Richard K. Gaines as his selection to the three-member team charged with leading the Transitional School District of the City of St. Louis.

Gaines is a well-known local businessman and former president of the St. Louis Board of Education.

“I am pleased to be able to appoint someone to this board with as much knowledge and experience as Richard,” said President Reed.

“His years of experience with public education in this city will serve this body well. His understanding of the budgetary process will also help the Transitional Board move the district back onto solid financial ground.

“Richard graduated from Vashon High School, his children graduated from St. Louis Public Schools, and the citizens of this city elected him to serve on the school board. I am confident that Richard will represent the people and parents of our city and will do what is best for the children of St. Louis.”

Gaines is a lifelong resident of St. Louis and a graduate of Vashon High School (1965). He is married to Anne-Marie Clarke and has two daughters, both graduates of St. Louis Public Schools.

He was first elected to the School Board in 1983 and served as President from 1987-88.

Richard Gaines is President and CEO of Richard K. Gaines, Inc. and Vice-President of Daniel and Henry Company.

Click here to download the press release and more info on Richard K. Gaines

*Lewis Reed is a client of A.D. French & Associates