Blog

Nixon breaks promise, awards another fee office to an influential Democrat

June 3, 2009

JEFFERSON CITY—Ignoring his pledge to clean up Missouri government, Nixon has appointed another well-connected Democrat-insider to run a lucrative license office. On Tuesday, the Nixon administration awarded the Lee’s Summit fee office, with generates annual revenues in excess of $400,000, to James Montee, an influential Democratic activist, wealthy donor, and ex-husband of State Auditor Susan Montee. Nixon’s decision to reward Montee’s lifelong dedication to the Democratic Party comes less than a month after Nixon claiming to have ended the political patronage system for fee offices.

“As they say: actions speak louder than words. Nixon claims he ended the political patronage system, but he has awarded one of the state’s most lucrative fee offices to one of the most prominent and well-connected donors in the state,” said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party. “As Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver famously said, ‘frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I am from Missouri. You have got to show me.’ Nixon’s frothy eloquence about ending pay-to-play is not convincing, and all he has shown is a propensity reward prominent Democratic supporters with plum government positions and fee offices.”

Over the past four years, Montee and his law firm have donated nearly $100,000 to the Democratic Party and its candidates, including Claire McCaskill, Robin Carnahan, Barack Obama, and the Missouri Democratic Party. He was also liable for a $500,000 loan to his then-wife’s campaign for Auditor. The 27th District Legislative Committee, which is based in one of Montee’s law offices, donated $13,475 to Nixon in 2008.

In addition to his profligate political contributions, James Montee has a history of activism on behalf of the Democratic Party. He was a delegate to the 2004 and 2008 Democrat National Conventions, a former member of the Democratic State Committee, and his law offices have housed various Democratic headquarters, among others.

Before Tuesday’s announcement, the Missouri Republican Party identified more than $40,000 in contributions to Nixon’s gubernatorial campaign linked to fee office recipients.

“Montee is the latest in a line of loyal Democrats who have been awarded license offices,” said Smith. “Nixon has sent a clear message: money is more important than merit when doling out fee offices to his supporters—his actions speak louder than words.”

# # #