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Get Used To This, Missourians – “No Comment”!
November 20, 2008
Jefferson City – After the Missouri Republican Party this week pointed out the media had failed to report that Jay Nixon’s first pick for a top cabinet post was a registered state lobbyist whose client has $1.4 million in tax dollars on the line, a news outlet took the information seriously and started asking questions. Terry Ganey at the Columbia Daily Tribune wrote this story:
http://www.columbiatribune.com/2008/Nov/20081119News012.asp.
Notably and consistent with past practice, Nixon’s office declined comment, while Kelvin Simmons, the appointee in question, quietly terminated his lobbying registration for Swope Community Builders the very day the MRP pointed it out. Not surprisingly, the reporter’s attempts to reach Simmons for comment were “not successful.”
In summation, here is the standard operating procedure we have seen time and again from Nixon that will apparently continue when he takes over the governor’s office:
- Information is brought to light that reflects poorly on Nixon and/or his office
- Nixon declines comment (e.g., http://www.mogop.org/wp/2006/12/141/ , http://www.kmov.com/education/stories/kmov_localnews_080123_schooltakeover.4f877329.html , http://www.redorbit.com/news/education/540524/ruling_upsets_legal_battles_a_judges_decision_could_force_lawmakers/index.html ,
- The media writes a story reporting the fact that comment was declined
- The media gives Nixon a free pass and does its best to forget the story
The problem in this instance is that in Ganey’s story, Nixon’s campaign and not his office, transition team or the lobbyist appointee is explaining the situation. Rather, a campaign spokesman alleges, “Simmons was not aware of the tax credit application, had no role in its development and instead worked on Swope’s health-care issues.”
According to Nixon’s campaign, Simmons wasn’t aware of the MHDC tax credit application, yet he is the former CEO of the company that submitted the application, and he was working as a registered state lobbyist for that very company until the MRP threw a red flag. Moreover, Simmons’ intimate knowledge of the company’s pursuit of MHDC financing was highlighted in a December 15, 2006 Kansas City Business Journal article as follows:
“The East Village’s plans also call for about 1,200 housing units to be built by Swope Community Builders, a Kansas City community development corporation that focuses on the East Side, and Sherman Associates Inc., a Minneapolis-based urban housing specialist.
Kelvin Simmons, former CEO of Swope Community Builders, said the Missouri Housing Development Commission, which is scheduled to make financing awards at its Friday meeting, won’t give money to the housing portion of the East Village development because certain procedural matters haven’t been fulfilled.
The East Village’s housing component needs that money to proceed, Simmons said .
Simmons works as a consultant for Swope Community Builders through his new company, A.M. Development LLC.”
The full story can be read below. Also see: http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2005/10/17/story1.html , http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2006/04/10/story5.html, http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2006/02/27/story5.html,
“Not aware” and “had no role” in developing the proposal … someone needs to correct the record. “Governor-elect Nixon and Kelvin Simmons should not sit by idly while campaign operatives do damage control by purposely misleading the media,” said Tina Hervey, communications director. “‘No comment’ should not be an acceptable answer when the onset of self-dealing has already manifested itself in Governor-elect Nixon’s administration.”
Kansas City Business Journal (Kansas & Missouri)
December 15, 2006 FridayKC Council signs off on Dunn HQ
The Kansas City Council on Thursday unanimously approved a plan for JE Dunn Construction Co. Inc. to build a $30 million headquarters that will anchor the proposed East Village redevelopment just east of City Hall.
Before construction begins, the city must assemble property on the block southeast of 10th and Locust streets. If owners won’t sell, the city could use eminent domain. The 190,000-square-foot headquarters will take 18 months to 20 months to build.
Tax increment financing, approved by the city and state, will divert taxes generated by the headquarters to pay for a $19 million, city-owned parking garage. An additional $12 million will be used to raze the now-vacant Cherry Street Inn, 921 Cherry St., and clear other blighted property.
An agreement the city announced in October had been threatened by disputes about employment guarantees and who will pay for an environmental remediation of the block southeast of 10th and Locust streets, where the headquarters is planned.
JE Dunn, whose headquarters employed more than 900 people at the end of 2005, ranks No. 1 on the Kansas City Business Journal’s list of the Top Area Commercial Contractors. But company officials said they couldn’t guarantee future employment because their business is too cyclical.
This refusal had threatened $33 million in state financing approved in August.
The East Village’s plans also call for about 1,200 housing units to be built by Swope Community Builders, a Kansas City community development corporation that focuses on the East Side, and Sherman Associates Inc., a Minneapolis-based urban housing specialist.
Kelvin Simmons, former CEO of Swope Community Builders, said the Missouri Housing Development Commission, which is scheduled to make financing awards at its Friday meeting, won’t give money to the housing portion of the East Village development because certain procedural matters haven’t been fulfilled.
The East Village’s housing component needs that money to proceed, Simmons said.
Simmons works as a consultant for Swope Community Builders through his new company, A.M. Development LLC.
