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Nixon’s Pay-to-Play: Staggering Numbers Illuminate Broken Promises

March 23, 2009

Jefferson City – Throughout last year’s campaign for governor, Jay Nixon repeatedly denounced special interests and the influence of money in politics. However, a new analysis shows that Nixon has appointed dozens of campaign contributors to key government positions. In total, these donors and their employers gave more than $3.4 million to benefit Nixon’s campaign.

“It is stunning how quickly Jay Nixon disregarded his campaign promises, instead appointing his moneyed friends to the highest levels of state government,” said David Cole, Chairman of the Missouri Republican Party. “Despite his pledge to clean up Jefferson City, it seems that money is the most important factor in Governor Nixon’s staffing decisions.”

The most egregious example of pay-to-play is the hiring of Jeff Mazur. Mazur, the former “Council Administrator” for AFSCME Council 72, was appointed a “Senior Advisor” in the Office of Administration after his union contributed $2.8 million to Nixon, the Missouri Democratic Party and Democratic Governors Association during the 2008 cycle.

Other notables included mutual fund manager Greg Wendt and developer Steven Stogel, Nixon’s picks to co-chair his Economic Stimulus Coordination Council, who combined donated more than $200,000 to Nixon, the MDP, and the DGA. These donation tallies include Stogel’s various business entities and one of Wendt’s family members. Aggregately, Nixon’s picks to the 26-member economic stimulus panel headed by Stogel and Wendt have donated more than $375,000 to committees that assisted in Nixon’s election.

More quick hits:

• Don Downing, University of Missouri curator: more than $103,000 from Downing and his employer.
• Lloyd Carmichael, Highways and Transportation Commission: more than $41,000 from the Carmichael family and their employers.

“Nixon has appointed donors to nearly every area of state government,” said Cole. “Now, his contributors will oversee our university system, our economic development, and our highways and transportation. Pay-to-Play Jay should stop rewarding contributors with appointments and start looking out for the best interest of Missourians.”