FRANKLIN TO BE NAMED NEW E.D.

PUB DEF EXCLUSIVE — BREAKING NEWS

Sources tell Pub Def that Ken Franklin will be named Executive Director of the Missouri Democratic Party later today.

Franklin is currently an aide to St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and a former state party staffer. He will be the first African-American to ever hold the influential position.

Check back later for more…

UPDATE: Over the course of several months, a field of 32 potential candidates for the E.D. job was cut down to 16, then 5, then just 3. Of those three candidates, according to Missouri Democratic Party Chairman John Temporiti, Franklin was the unanimous choice of state party officials.

Readers will recall that there was speculation that the sudden resignation of Democratic Party Chairman Roger Wilson back in January was the result of a clash between him, the Legislative Black Caucus, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, and Attorney General and Gubernatorial candidate Jay Nixon over who should be the next E.D.

According to sources, all sides agreed that it was time for an African-American director, but who?

Brandon Davis, McCaskill’s former political director, interviewed for the job and actively lobbied officials for weeks. But Wilson told Black Caucus members “no way” on Davis.

But it was the manner and tone in which Wilson told the Caucus “no” that some speculate quickly led to his resignation.

In February, Davis accepted a job as political director for the SEIU MO/KS State Council, taking his name out of the running for E.D. (and saving Wilson from embarrassment should Davis had been appointed despite his stern objections).

Today’s appointment of Franklin both satisfies one promise to the strongest part of the Democrats’ base and places the Party in the hands of a capable, well-liked director who may be able to build bridges across the state to help the Democrats retake the Governor’s office next year.

UPDATE 2: It’s official. At 12:45 p.m. the Missouri Democratic Party sent out the following press release.

The Missouri Democratic Party today announced that Ken Franklin from St. Louis will be the party’s new Executive Director. The selection was made by Party Chairman John Temporiti and approved by the Missouri Democratic Party’s Executive Committee at the quarterly state party meeting today in Jefferson City.

Franklin has served since May 2005 as St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay’s Deputy Legislative Director and formerly ran Gov. Bob Holden’s St. Louis office. Along with his experience in government, Franklin has also served as Political Director for Mayor Slay’s successful 2005 re-election, Base Vote Director for Sen. Jean Carnahan’s 2002 campaign, and Press Aid for Freeman Bosley, Jr.’s 2001 mayoral campaign. He has also participated in the St. Louis RCGA’s Public Policy Council and the St. Louis Downtown Partnership’s Legislative Affairs Committee. Franklin previously worked at the Missouri Democratic Party from 2001-2002 as the Director of Voter Outreach.

“Ken’s experience both in government and politics in Missouri make him the ideal choice to continue the momentum the Missouri Democratic Party has built over the last election,” said John Temporiti, Missouri Democratic Party Chairman. “Ken brings both the background and enthusiasm to help Missouri Democrats win up and down the ticket in 2008 and beyond.”

Ken graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia with a degree in political science. Before entering government and politics, Franklin taught social studies and language arts for two years at Holy Cross School in St. Louis. Ken lives with his wife and one-year-old daughter in St. Louis, where his father, Robert, is a pastor.

He replaces Corey Dillon who left in February to join the U.S. Senate office of Claire McCaskill. Franklin will be the first ever African-American Executive Director of the Missouri Democratic Party when he starts work the week of May 14.