Posts Tagged ‘Jay Nixon’

After 9,000 boxing fans arrived at Scottrade Center for the Devon Alexander/Andriy Kotelnik boxing match, they might’v thought they were attending a World Wrestling Federation event. They coughed up big bucks for Don King’s “Gateway to Greatness” sports presentation, only to watch Gov. Jay Nixon’s intro and his jump into the ring, followed by loud boo’s as if he were a villain for having pulled St. Louis historic tax credits and for giving firefighters the option of living outside of the city. A vet boxing fan yelled to King ringside, “Hey, Don, where’s your St. Louis flag, dude?” King, noted for waving the red, white and blue, waved a Missouri flag, but not a St. Louis flag. (Might have something to do with the city reportedly opting to look over the entertainment tax for King to help promote future boxing matches.)

While Gov. Jay Nixon refers to the rash of media zings over his use of state cars for political trips, Fox 2’s Elliott Davis has kindled another kind of fireworks heading for the guv to be aired on tonight’s news segment of “You Paid For It.” Meanwhile, Nixon has referred to the violation of state law as “highly inflated hyperbole.”

Mo. Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder got high-fives from a gaggle of the 71,000 participants in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.  Kinder, a Republican, ran in the 5K section.  Overdupois Mo. Gov. Jay Nixon also competed.  (Maybe his weight gain can be attributed to his recent visit at Sweetie Pie’s.)  Slim Mayor Francis Slay kicked off the ceremonies in his Polo shirt – sans his usual natty suit.  Juan Carlos Antolinez was on hand as was his wife, Mo. Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, a breast cancer survivor, who tagged along.  Her bro, Cong. Russ Carnahan, made a cameo. Some women oggled over State Rep Chris Carter’s buffed torso as he made it through the finish line with his adorable Naomi West. Martin Casas, prez of the Young Democrats, was raced, while his soul mate, Katie Casas cooled her jets at home with their newborn Sophie Ann.

Dr. L. Mike Nayak and his wife, Avni

Distinguished plastic surgeon Dr. L. Mike Nayak and his wife/attorney Avni, offered that there has been “an explosion” of patients seeking reconstruction of their noses. Over dinner at Tony’s, Avni, who works in Mike’s office, quipped, “I’m a recovering lawyer and have been clean for seven years”. . .Terry Croupen was aglow about his new bride, the former Tina DiGregorio, and admitted, “I’ll take another shot”. . .Freshly off its successful fundraising for Vince Schoemehl and the Advance St. Louis campaign, Matt Lieberman’s Majority Strategies has reloaded, hiring two well-known Democratic political professionals:  Lori Becker, a former administrator for License Collector Gregory FX Daly and ex-Slay campaigner; and Angela Bingaman, a vet of the Clint Zwiefel and Jay Nixon campaigns. . .”The Fast Lane” hosts Bob Ramsey, D’Marco Farr and Randy Karaker will host their first-ever “Massages for Mama” event at Seasons Spa & Salon on Friday.  It will include a $15 Mother’s Day massage from 6-7:30 p.m. in an effort to collect the most money/donations and the right to be called the biggest “mama’s boy.”  The host who raises the most for the St. Louis Crisis Nursery voted by 101 ESPN listeners will get a Brazilian Wax live on the air. . .North county Dem politics was the topic the other night at Yacovellis’ Restaurant in Florissant where 76th district Misssuri state rep candidate Keith Schildroth was feted by a host committee, that included state senator Tim Green… .Danny Wald has sold his portfolio of apartment buildings in The Loop to WashU.  As many recall, his late parents, Margie and Harry Wald were the impresarios of burlesque at the long-gone Grand and Garrick Theaters.

Missing from St. Louis county exec Charlie Dooley’s meeting with Prez Obama’s “car czar” Ed Montgomery in Fenton on Thursday
to announce a new joint effort to find new uses for empty auto plants (and new jobs for former auto workers) was Gov. Jay Nixon, who opted to arrive in our town a day earlier to announce a tax credit award in St.Louis City.  The state of Missouri matched funds with the feds, the county and the City of Fenton to make the auto effort possible.

Somewhere in her family, Alexis Tucci had to have inherited the genes of Cecil B. DeMille or David O. Selznick.  Only they and Tucci could produce a spectacular such as the Mayor’s Ball in City Hall t’other eve, crafted by Tucci.  Usually the corridors are as empty as an Elaine Viets book signing, but Friday night they were wall-to-wall, costumed party-goers as well as those in formal attire.  Why not? It was the eve of Mardi Gras festivities around town and the guests partied and jammed beyond belief. The aforementioned Dooley and Hizzoner Francis Slay were hugging and recalling how earlier in the day, Dooley pulled off his best joke yet. While Slay and others were at a Hardee’s launching of Heat Up St. Louis, they looked in vain for Dooley, whose presence was expected. Finally, someone caught a side-splitting Dooley at a drive-up window.

Speaking of attending functions, Guv. Jay Nixon was invited to the ball, but was a no-show much to the anger of some power brokers. “He doesn’t even care about St. Louis”, said one of them.  Another Dem chimed in about county exec hopeful Bill Corrigan and pointed out, “He’s been elected to Pulaski Bank’s board.  You know, the bank that has not yet paid back the TARP funds?”

With his wife, Gienne, at  his side,  Parks & Rec. chief Gary Best tipped that a conservancy is being formed to raise money for the Gateway Mall park. Nearby, St. Louis Sheriff Jim Murphy lamented about his nephew, Judge Joe Murphy, another victim of lung cancer. “It’s treatable – he’s now on chemotherapy,” said Murphy. Affable 25th Ward Alderman Shane Cohen enthused over having gotten a grant from the Justice Dept. for his district to cover police and prosecutorial services as well as the neighborhood watch program. Taking it all in were Deb and Cong. Russ Carnahan, who admitted he enjoys listening to Rush Limbaugh whenever possible. Getting admirable stares were the stunning duo of Teresa and broadcaster John Brown, while nearby were Michelle and St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson, who expressed comfort about what he described as a “coming together of all factions in the department, but several forces don’t want that.”  A few toasts were raised to Brian Wahby, chairman of the city Democratic Central committee for having pioneered the Mayor’s Ball way back then.