Catholics Pressure Nixon on Gambaro

Two well-known St. Louis Catholics are asking Attorney General and Democratic candidate for governor Jay Nixon to support Governor Matt Blunt’s selection to the State Board of Education.

PubDef.net has obtained a copy of a letter dated this week sent to Nixon from Rev. Sal E. Polizzi of St. Roch Catholic Church and Rev. Vincent Bommarito of St. Ambrose Catholic Church. In it, the two ask Nixon to support the appointment of conservative Democrat Derio Gambaro to the Board of Education.

“As the leading Democrat in our state and the only announced Democratic candidate for governor of our state we are writing to ask you to contact Senator [Jeff] Smith and ask him to support Derio,” they wrote.

“As you well know, the Italian neighborhood (The Hill) is still a very democratic area and the residents would appreciate Senator Smith’s support for Derio’s appointment.”

Gambaro was one of Smith’s opponents in a crowded primary contest last year to replace the term-limited State Sen. Pat Dougherty. Smith has voiced some concerns about Gambaro’s appointment.

Click here to download the letter
Click here to read Jeff Smith’s statement on Gambaro
Click here to watch video of Blunt’s announcement