Posts Tagged ‘Jay Nixon’

State Democrats and Republicans will be watching closely the May 18 trial in Cole County Judge Jon Beetum’s courtroom between the Dept. of Revenue and Maplewood’s Deer Creek fee office operator Michael Becker. Insiders of both political parties are expressing anger at the procurement process on awarding fee offices, which they say are both flawed and lacking in definitive guidelines.  Becker has been the standard bearer among the field in numerous categories in reviews during the process. Yet, it is only because Judge Patricia Joyce and Judge Beetum have sided with Becker with barring the state from replacing him with Springfield, Mo.-based not-for-profit Alternative Opportunities (AO) that Becker retains control of the lucrative Maplewood fee office. AO board members include AO CEO Marilyn Nolan, a member of Gov. Jay Nixon‘s transition team, and former co-owner of AO sub-contractor WD Management), and AO CFO Tom Goss. Goss’s wife, Bontiea Goss, is also an AO board member and COO of the not-for-profit.  WD Management, a company owned by AO board members that AO then chose to run the day-to-day operations for AO fee offices awarded by the state.  Tom Goss acted as agent of record for AO on many state contracts and legal documents.  Goss’ signature as agent of record concerning the state contracts for the fee offices indicate that Goss read the documents in their entirety and understood all provisions.  Becker contends that Goss and in turn AO failed to meet the state’s requirement for being a responsible bidder by being in violation of the RFP – request for proposal), which states, “The contractor shall not utilize subcontractors for provision of the services directly required in the contract.” WD Management’s sole client was AO.

Guv. Jay Nixon harvested a 24-pound mature gobbler in Pulaski County on Monday’s opener of spring turkey season. “There is no better way to spend a beautiful spring morning than enjoying the solitude of the Missouri outdoors,” sez the guv.

Gov. Jay Nixon has been named chairman of the education, early childhood and workforce committee of the NGA for the year.  The committee has jurisdiction over issues in those areas as well as elementary and secondary education and higher education. NGA chair and Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire pointed out that Nixon “has a strong commitment to the jobs”  for providing access to education for all students.

Legislative and economic priorities will be outlined Jan. 19 by Gov. Jay Nixon in the chamber of the House of Reps in Jeff City. His State of the State address may be accessed on the state’s Web portal, www.MO.gov.

Judge Michael David and Michelle David

At the cocktail reception prior to the Lawyers Association Dinner & Gridiron at the Chase Hotel, Rex Burlison, director of the governor’s St. Louis office, said, “Jay will run for reelection to finish the work he’s begun. His campaign will begin with a Nov. 30 event.”  With his wife, Rita, Burlison was cornered by Peter Dunne, who collaborated on writing the gridiron show titled, “Tommy.”  Craig Schlapprizzi was hailed by his dad/attorney Don Schlapprizzi

Dr. Patricia and Judge Michael Wolff

upon his victory in his first two cases at Don’s law firm.  Also, Don’s heiress/attorney Toni has just joined the firm.  Michelle and Judge Michael David were on hand and David described a case for which he has a year’s work.  The lawsuit is about tobacco firms, which have been sued by hospitals, that have alleged the companies are obligated to reimburse them for providing care for patients, who have become ill as a result of smoking.  Dr. Pat Wolff, a pediatrician, who has given much time to attend to patients in grief-stricken Haiti, explained how she avoids the current cholera epidemic.  ”I wash my hands frequently and cook my own food,” she offered.  With her was spouse Mo. Supreme Court Judge Michael Wolff, who will, upon his upcoming retirement from the bench, become a prof at SLU’s School of Law.  He said he’ll imbue students with this bit of advice, “Take the law seriously, but don’t take yourself seriously.”

Vanessa and retired Judge Michael Calvin

Judge Lisa Van Amburg, Don Schliaparizzi with Toni and Craig Schliaparizzi.

Judge Maggie Neill, Kathy and Judge John Riley

There was little Christian love for Mo. Guv Jay Nixon last Sunday in the historic Hill nabe.  In what may, arguably, believe is the heart of the Democratic Party, the area was shaken off its foundation during the 25th Giro della Montagna race.  Race officials had invited Lt. Guv Peter Kinder, a Republican and also former chairman of Tour Missouri, to start a cycling race.  With a backdrop of St. Ambrose Catholic Church, the event brought out hundreds of spectators, volunteers and participants. Before Kinder greeted area cyclists, several spectators yelled, “Impeach Nixon” and “Vote Nixon Out.”  Kinder didn’t miss a beat,  while never acknowledging the Nixon foes, who were angry bike fans.  Kinder merely cracked a smile and said, “If I have anything to do with it (pause), we’ll have the Tour Missouri next year.”  The crowd roared with glee, while a startled Monsignor Vince Bommarito returned to his nearby, beloved church.  The church pushed back its 12 noon Mass an hour earlier so that The Giro della Montagna race could have its six-hour event.  Nixon had rejected funding this year for the Tour Missouri, a statewide professional cycling race, which brought hundreds of international participants and thousands of tourists to Missouri and our town for one week.

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.)