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New EcoDevo Director has his work cut out for him

October 29, 2009

Gov. Nixon has not made job creation a priority

JEFFERSON CITY—After months of listless leadership, a stagnating economy, and allegations that Gov. Jay Nixon refused to even speak with his previous jobs czar, Nixon today appointed Kansas’ Secretary of Commerce David Kerr as the Director of Economic Development.

Kerr faces the daunting task of putting reigniting Missouri’s economy.  Since Jay Nixon took office, Missouri’s unemployment has jumped to 9.5%, and nearly 60,000 working men and women have lost their jobs.  And because of petty personal conflicts Jay Nixon’s, the Department of Economic Development has lacked real leadership for months.

“Because of Jay Nixon’s lackluster leadership, his new Director of Economic Development has his work cut out for him,” said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party.  “The economy is sputtering, the number of Missourians without work continues to climb, and job opportunities have been lost because of Jay Nixon has put politics in front of people.  It is time for Nixon to finally get serious about creating jobs and putting Missourians back to work.”

We have learned of at least one high-profile company—Harley Davidson—that was considering opening a facility in the Missouri, adding hundreds of jobs in process.  But talks collapsed after Nixon did not meet in Kansas City with the company’s executives, preferring to spend his entire day at the State Fair.

Even top Nixon Administration officials expressed their concerns about his indifferent attitude. In fact, emails from the previous Director of Economic Development, Linda Martinez, make it clear that state and local officials were troubled by Nixon’s refusal to meet with Harley-Davidson officials.

An August 31 email from Martinez to Nixon aides Dustin Allison, Jack Cardetti, and Jeff Mazur outlined her fear that “people will want to throw [Nixon] under the bus… because all the governors from the competing states showed up in person.”  She later reported that she was contacted by at least on local official concerned that he skipped the crucial meeting.

“Nixon Administration officials were more concerned about him getting ‘thrown under the bus’ than they were about creating jobs and putting Missourians back to work,” said Smith.  “Many of Nixon’s close aides are cronies and personal friends who have known him for years, and outsiders have found it difficult to become part of the good ‘ol boys club.  We sincerely hope that the new Director of Economic Development quickly finds a way to earn the confidence of the governor—thousands of jobs depend on it.”

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