Category: Missouri Politics

posts about elections, elected officials, legislation, policy, public meetings, public services in Missouri

Updated Mo & St. Louis City Candidate Qualifications, Requirements

2026 is an election year. In Missouri, State Auditor and all US House of Representative seats are up. In St. Louis City, there’s an election for State Senator (open seat due to term limits); all State House seats; County offices of Collector of Revenue, License Collector, Recorder of Deeds; a Community College seat representing southwest City; and two School Board seats up in November.

I tried to update the blog page for information on running for public office in St. Louis City and Missouri but there’s missing information because…

  • St. Louis School Board has no information on November candidate filing process and neither does Board of Election
  • St. Louis Community College Board of Trustees has no information on April Subdistrict 3 candidate filing process and neither does Board of Election

No Record of Who Nominated Darryl Gray

Great. Just great. Still don’t know which St. Louis business organization nominated political consultent Darry Gray, St. Louis, to Missouri Workforce Development Board. I have been informed by Governor Mike Kehoe’s Office that they have no such nominating letter.

Took them eleven days to come to that conclusion.

Gray is a Business Representative of the Board.

Per the Board’s By-Laws, “1) Business representatives are appointed from among individuals who are nominated by local business organizations and business trade associations.”

Gray, better known as a member of the clergy, has a political consulting business called Gray and Gray Associates. Sonya Gray, his wife, Personnel Director for City of St. Louis, was a part of the business until October 2024. I wrote about their business here.

I first Sunshined the Board for the nominating letter(s) and was told they have no record.

Then, I Sunshined the Governor’s Office for the record(s). The Governor’s Office surely knows where board and commission records of Mike Parson, the previous Governor who appointed Gray last year, are located. Right? I wrote about the Governor’s Office initial response here.

Not ready to conclude Governor Parson appointed Darryl Gray to the Board without following the By-Laws, so will Sunshine the Boards and Commissions Director, though neither Workforce Development Board or Governor’s Office suggested that I do that.

Why is it that nearly everyone who handles Sunshine requests does so in the least helpful way possible?

I Sunshined a Record from Governor’s Office, Sigh

I have been trying since January 15, 2025, to find out which St. Louis business organization(s) or business trade association(s) nominated Darryl Gray to the Missouri Workforce Development Board.

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe’s office, which I contacted on January 16th, says I can expect the record(s) on or before January 31st and they will let me know if the cost is over $50. January 31st would be eleven days after my email to Sunshine@governor.mo.gov.

Letter from Governor Mike Kehoe's Office

I worked for decades in public records preservation and public access. My ass would have been fired if I had told a customer that it might take eleven days to retrieve a record.

The person handling this Sunshine request is Jordan Roling, Deputy General Counsel, a seasoned member of the Missouri Bar since… July 2024.

Roling’s previous jobs, per LinkedIn, were Assistant Tennis Coach at Helias Catholic High School in Jefferson City and summer internships at the Cole County Prosecutor’s Office and U.S. Department of Homeland Security during law school at Mizzou.

Roling’s most recent job, per Missouri Ethics Commission records, was working on the campaign of Mike Kehoe, now his boss as Governor, at $2,500 a month since August plus mileage.

Back to Darryl Gray. He has a business- Gray and Gray Associates, a political consultant business. I wrote about it here. It’s a side story to the Mayor Tishaura Jones v. Sonya Gray, Personnel Director battle. The Mayor is trying to fire her for cause. Sonya Gray is wife of Darry Gray and was, until October 28th, agent for Gray and Gray Associates.

And allow me to insert here that this whole Jones v. Gray thing would not be news click bait if mayors of the City of St. Louis had the authority to hire and fire any cabinet level appointee. The Personnel Director and Police Chief do not serve at the pleasure of the Mayor in St. Louis under the City’s arcane Charter. You want to hold Mayor Tishaura Jones accountable for the Personnel Department or Police Department, hiring and crime? Sorry. The Charter has a confusing chain of command for both. Blame the Charter Commission and Alders for not sending a fix for this mess to voters.

Back to Darry Gray. He was nominated to serve on the Workforce Development Board under former Governor Mike Parson, appointed by Parson. There’s a weird subplot involving accused rapist State Senator Steven Roberts trying to derail nominations. Of course there is.

Darryl Gray holds a “Business Representative” seat on the Board, meaning, per Board’s By Laws, he had to be nominated by one or more local business organizations and business trade associations.

I am trying to find out which business group nominated him. It seems odd that a business group nominated a political consultant to Democratic candidates. Workforce Development Board does not require a parity of political parties. Even more peculiar, a MAGA Governor appointed a Democratic consultant.

The Workforce Development Board said it did not have records. I emailed a Sunshine request to them on January 15th and heard back next day. They didn’t bother to tell me who else to ask for the record(s). This sort of thing annoys me because when I worked at City Hall, a county office, we were not allowed to say, “not my job.” We had to find the correct resource and refer, give the customer the contact info and, if by phone, try and tranfer them.

Since this is a former governor appointment, I decided to email the Governor’s Office regardless of the change in occupants. I had no idea the request would be handled by a recent tennis coach/political campaign worker.

This qualifies as a Sunshine Fail, in my opinion.

Sonya Gray, Political Consultant?

Profile photo of Sonya Gray on City of St. Louis website

last updated 5:11 pm 01/23/2025

The first of many questions. Are the Gray and Gray of Gray and Gray Associates LLC, political consultants, Daryll Gray and St. Louis City Personnel Director Sonya Gray?

January 9, 2018, Sonya Gray, as agent, and Daryll Gray, as organizer, both using the same address on Enright, filed Gray and Gray Associates LLC with the Missouri Secretary of State. Purpose of the company was to “Provide consulting services.”

November 5, 2018, Ecumenical Leadership Council of MO Political Action Committee paid $3,400 to Darryl Gray, same Enright address, not the company, as a campaign worker.

October 22, 2020, Nicole Galloway for Missouri paid $13,820 to Gray and Gray Associates, same address on Enright, for GOTV services.

November 2nd, 2020, Nicole Galloway for Missouri paid $20,000 to Darryl G. Gray, same address on Enright, not the company, for GOTV services.

December 14, 2020, Nicole Galloway for Missouri paid $7,780 to Darryl G. Gray, same address on Enright, not the company, for GOTV services.

October 6, 2022, St. Louis City Mayor Tishaura Jones announced the hiring of Sonya Jenkins-Gray as the City’s new Personnel Director.

June 5th, 2024, Missouri Governor Mike Parson appointed Darryl Gray to the Missouri Workforce Development Board. There was, prior to Governor Mike Kehoe’s inauguration, a press release for the appointment here. UPDATE: It is available tho on Internet Archive.

The Workforce Development Board’s web page shows that Darryl Gray is a Business Representative on the Board. Per the Board’s By Laws, “1) Business representatives are appointed from among individuals who are nominated by local business organizations and business trade associations.”

Which St. Louis business organization or business trade association nominated Darryl Gray to Governor Parson?

UPDATE 1: I made a Sunshine request to Workforce Development Board on January 15th for the nomination correspondence. They responded, no records on January 16th.

UPDATE 2: I made a Sunshine request for the nomination correspondence to Governor Mike Kehoe’s office, new governor sworn in on January 13th, on January 16th. Missouri’s Sunshine Law requires a response within three days. That has passed without a response.

UPDATE 3: I received a response from Governor Kehoe’s office at 9:26 am January 23rd and am now waiting for the record(s).

October 28, 2024, Daryll Gray, using an address on Waterman (not owned by him and located in a Special Business District), filed an amendment to the LLC with Missouri Secretary of State. He changed the agent to himself and the address to the Waterman address.

Why did Darryl Gray remove Sonya Gray’s as agent for the company?

There is no website for Gray and Gray Associates in St. Louis.

I did not search the Federal Election Commission database for Gray and Gray, the company or individuals.

Why was money for consulting services paid to Darryl Gray instead of the company?

Did Sonya Gray violate Civil Service Rules or Employee Code of Conduct by participating in or failing to disclose her participation in the company?

Disclosures: September 24, 2018, Darryl and Sonya Gray attended a Drinking Liberally Happy Hour, which I hosted, with guest speaker State Auditor Nicole Galloway and I donated $27 to Daryll Gray’s 2019 campaign for Alder. I have donated to the campaigns of Tishaura Jones for Mayor, most recently in December 2024.

MAGA v. Extra Super MAGA in SWMo

Now that Former Guy has picked his running mate, you’ll be seeing even more Missouri Republican candidates promoting their Christian Nationalist (gift article) credentials.

In the 128th District, Polk and southern Hickory Counties, cattle country, home and birthplace to Governor Mike Parson, one Republican got a head start as a Christian Nationalist candidate. Derral Reynolds has campaign yard signs and a YouTube commercial using the Christian symbol of a cross. The commercial also misspells foreign.

The Bolivar retiree wants voters to “Invest in the future of you and your family’s security by sending strong Christian Conservative values to Jefferson City… Take Missouri Back for us” per his campaign website. “Take Back America” is a popular theme for the Former Guy campaign. MAGA Republicans run Missouri, hold every statewide office, have a majority in both chambers of Legislature. For Missouri Republicans, this election season is a battle between MAGA and Extra Super MAGA.

The scariest statement on Reynold’s website: “It is time for the good Christian people of this country to step up and set things right. We need America to be “One Nation Under God” again.”

Per Press Release, Reynolds campaign talks about “illegal immigration” and “school choice.” “Illegal immigration – it affects your wallet, costing Missourians over $446 million last year. They bring drugs, sex trafficking and crime into our cities, violence and gangs to our schools.” “School choice will hold public schools accountable. Derral wants to move public money to pay for your kid’s private school. There are many problems in our schools he will address.”

Reynolds has loaned himself a total of $7,842.23 so far and not reported any monetary contributions. He and his family appear to be running his campaign. He’ll come in third is my guess.

The four-man GOP primary for 128th District comes down to the Battle of Mayors.

Chris Warwick, current Bolivar Mayor and electrical biz owner, has the usual MAGA agenda: “Upholding the Constitution, Supporting Family Farms & Businesses, Increasing Parents’ Rights in Education, Advancing the Pro-Life Cause, Promoting Local Control.” Local control is a bit of a joke when it comes to Missouri GOP. No MAGA Republican wants St. Louis and Kansas City to have local control.

Warwick raised $6,279.70, mostly local contributions, since converting his mayoral committee to Missouri House race. Pro-charter schools Quality Schools Coalition donated $2000 to his campaign.

Per Press Release, Warwick hired Jeff Roe’s Axiom Strategies. His campaign finance reports do not show any money paid to them to date.

The leading candidate is probably Dr. John Best, cardiologist, former Bolivar mayor. He loaned his campaign $50,000, donated another $5,225, has $42,464.21 on hand.

Best does not have a campaign website. He has a Facebook page but I don’t use Facebook and don’t encourage others to use it either. This press release provides no insight on where he stands on issues.

Best did a mailing to Hickory County voters for a meet and greet event last month at Pomme de Ritas, a bar with food at Pomme de Terre Lake. His campaign finance report lists an expense of $448.38 to Pomme de Ritas for “advertising.” A MAGA neighbor attended as was impressed by Best’s opposition to “illegal immigrants.”

In 2017 and 2018 (paywall) Best was the subject of sexual harassment complaints.

Victory Enterprises is running Best’s campaign. Protect the Harvest is another of their clients. That’s one of millionaire (half a billion) Forrest Lucas‘s pet projects. Lucas is the largest landowner in Hickory County, home to Lucas Cattle Company. He was under consideration for Interior Secretary during Former Guy’s term and responsible for two pardons by Former Guy in 2018. His wife said the quiet part out loud about minority populations in 2014.

Bill Yarberry, a Fair Play cattleman, is a perennial candidate for state representative and state senator who has loaned his campaign $3,300 and not received any contributions. He came in third place in 2022 in a three candidate GOP primary for Senate 28th District in which incumbent State Senator Sandy Crawford, the only Republican Senator with a primary challenger, held the seat with 63.7%. I don’t see a website for him but here’s a candidate bio from his 2016 campaign.

Yes. There’s a Democrat- Rich Horton, Brighton. He was Democratic Party nominee for 128th District in 2018 and 2022. He sold his electric service shop in Springfield last year. Horton donated $500 to his campaign and has $209.73 on hand. He has no website.

Candidate Requirements Updated, Prez Caucus Date Unknown

Six question marks, one each yellow, green, orange, pink, dark blue, light blue

Missouri & St. Louis City Candidate Age & Residency Qualifications page has been updated with 2026 election cycle date for offices elected in 2022.

Date of the Missouri 2024 Presidential Caucuses, which replace statewide Presidential Primary, remain a mystery. Elimination of Presidential Primaries in Missouri was a part of the voter suppression bill passed by Republicans last year and signed into law by Governor Mike Parson.

But two Republican Missouri House members want to bring back March Presidential Primaries to the State. Neither House Bill 267 nor House Bill 347 has been assigned to a committee yet, let alone had a hearing.

Further Reading: Uncertainty abounds as Missouri prepares for 2024 presidential caucuses, Columbia Missourian, July 23, 2022

Where’s Bosley’s Money?

Photo of Alder Bosley literature

UPDATED

Found the money. Alder Brandon Bosley’s campaign is using a political action committee not yet filed with Missouri Ethics Commission.

Literature and yard signs promoting his candidacy have been printed and are in use with a “Paid for by the 14th Ward Democratic Organization.”

But the only 14th Ward organization active in MEC database is the one serving pre-ward reduction 14th Ward in Bevo, Princeton Heights, and Southampton neighborhoods.

Money has been spent or debt created on Bosley’s behalf without reporting it to MEC in a timely fashion. The Treasurer is Linda Primer, who is also the Deputy Treasurer for Citizens for Brandon Bosley. There is no arms length between the two entities. Definitely collaboration between the two.

Lots more details below.

Original Post

New 14th Ward Profile is updated with 40 Days Before Alder Election reports.

3rd Ward Alder Brandon Bosley did not make a January Report or a 40 Days Out Report. His October 2022 Report was Limited Activity. His last report with any activity was April 2021 when he had $100 on hand. It’s not the sign of someone running a legit campaign.

January Reports were optional and 40 Days Out Reports were due only if committee 1) accepted contributions (money or in-kind) or 2) had expenses (paid or incurred). 

The Bosley Family political action committee- 3rd Ward Regular Democratic Organization- hasn’t reported activity since April 2021 when it had $20.21 on hand.

Alder Bosley’s mother and Treasurer- 3rd Ward Committeewoman Lucinda Frazier- registered a new 14th Ward Democratic Organization as a nonprofit with Missouri Secretary of State, but not MEC. Very curious.

Alder Bosley’s Deputy Treasurer- Linda Primer- is also Treasurer for 3rd Ward Regular Democratic Organization and Civil PAC, as well as Deputy Treasurer for Bosley’s sister- State Rep. LaKeySha Bosley

Civil PAC hasn’t reported any activity since July 2022. It paid the 3rd Ward organization $2,500 for a lit drop in 2020. State Rep. Bosley last reported activity in December 2022, including $800 to political consultant Tim Person.

Some of Person’s previous clients include Jack Coatar’s disastrous run for Board President, former Mayor Lyda Krewson, former Board President Lewis Reed, former County Executive candidate Mark Montovani, former State Rep. Wiley Price, Heartland Action PAC, and Civil PAC.

Tim Person isn’t just a political consultant. He is Human Resources Director for St. Louis City Recorder of Deeds Michael Butler. Person replaced a Recorder employee of many years who was fired by Butler without cause the day he was sworn into office. She and other employees, also fired for not working for his election, sued and taxpayers paid out a six figure settlement.

We’re also talking about the same Michael Butler who chairs the Missouri Democratic Party (also sued by former employee and Party donors had to pay a settlement) and hired Person to do fundraising. Same Michael Butler who owns an all you can drink for one price bar, same bar State Rep. Bosley has worked at or still does. Same bar she held a re-election fundraiser at last year.

Butler also serves on the Board for Communities First, a nonprofit founded by Lucinda Frazier (Alder Bosley’s mother), who is also Butler’s Chief of Staff. The nonprofit’s address is used by State Rep. Bosley on her campaign finance reports and her last candidate filing at Secretary of State. It’s also been used as a default address for 3rd Ward/Bosley Family related campaign workers.

It’s a good guess that Person will be trying to help elect Alder Bosley to the new 14th Ward seat, if Bosley is actively running. It’s also a good guess that money to help that effort might come via Civil PAC.

More intrigue- State Rep. Rasheen Aldridge, one of four candidates for the 14th Ward seat, is a former employee of Michael Butler’s Recorder of Deeds office and he donated $2,600 last year to Communities First.

St. Louis, biggest small town in America.

Former Statewide Dem Candidates With MEC Accounts

All of these Missouri Ethics Commission accounts say they are candidates running statewide in 8/6/2024 Primary Election.

Former House Speaker Steve Gaw, Candidate for Secretary of State and US House

Fourteen year after his last campaign, Steve Gaw still has a candidate committee. His last report, other than Limited Activity, was October 2012 Amended: $43,627.80 on hand, $0 debt.

Gaw was Speaker of the Missouri House from Moberly 1996-2001, the first Speaker after Bob Griffin. Griffin resigned in 1996 and was convicted of Federal corruption charges in 1998.

Gaw ran for Secretary of State in 2000, losing to Matt Blunt, 45.1% to 51.4%,, the only Republican to win statewide that year.

In 2008, Gaw ran for 9th District U.S. House but came in second in a four candidate Democratic Primary. Judy Baker, then lost in the General Election to Blaine Luetkemeyer, 47.5% to 50%.

Former State Auditor Susan Montee

10 years after her last campaign, Susan Montee still has a candidate committee. Her October 2022 Report shows $0 raised, $0 spent, $1,938.93 on hand, $500,000 debt.

Montee began her political career serving as both as an elected St. Joseph City Councilwoman (unpaid) and elected Buchanan County Auditor.

In 2006, she ran and won a term as State Auditor, beating Republican Sandra Thomas, 52.8% to 43.4%. This was the election that State Auditor Claire McCaskill beat Republican U.S. Senator Jim Talent, 50% to 47%. McCaskill resigned as State Auditor and then Republican Governor Matt Blunt appointed Montee to the fill the less than a week remaining in McCaskill’s term.

In 2010, Montee lost re-election to Republican Tom Schweich, 45.5% to 50.8%, and soon after became Chair of the Missouri Democratic Party.

The following year, Montee resigned as Party Chair to run for Missouri Lieutenant Governor. In the Democratic Primary, she faced seven candidates and won with 44.9%. The other candidates were former Columbia State Rep. Judy Baker with 15.8%, perennial St. Louis candidate Bill Haas with 12%, Springfield State Rep. Sara Lampe with 8.9%, St. Joseph government surplus business owner Dennis Weisenburger with 5.5%, former Kansas City State Rep. Jackie Townes McGee with 5.3%, former Presiding Commissioner of Saline County Becky Lee Plattner with 3.8%, former St. Louis State Rep. Fred Kratky with 3.8%.

In the General Election for Lieutenant Governor, she lost to incumbent Republican Peter Kinder, 45.5% to 49.3%.

Former AG Chris Koster, Republican turned Democrat

Six years after his last campaign, Chris Koster still has a candidate committee. His last report, January 2023, showed $0 raised, $1,914 (all a donation to Central Institute for the Deaf), $35,192.61 on hand, $0 debt.

He was elected Cass County Prosecutor in 1994, 1996, 2000, as a Republican. He successfully prosecuted the first internet serial killer. In 2004, he was elected as Republican to the Missouri Senate to represent Cass, Johnson, Bates, Vernon Counties and chaired the Senate Republican Caucus.

In 2007, Koster left the Republican Party and became a Democrat. In 2008, he won the Democratic Primary for Attorney despite his former wife, Rebecca Bowman Nassikas, donating $200,000 to a PAC running TV ads against him.
He then beat GOP State Senator Mike Gibbons in the General Election, 52.83% to 47.17%.

In 2013, in his second term as Attorney General, Koster began running for Missouri Governor and in 2016 lost to Eric Greitens, 45.40% to 51.29%.

Koster’s October Report shows $15,000 donated to Missouri Botanical Gardens and Mizzou Law School Foundation. He appears to be slowly spending down the account with donations to nonprofits. He is currently Secretary and General Counsel for Centene.

Former Secretary of State Candidate Yinka Faleti

Two years after running for Secretary of State, Yinka Faleti still has a candidate committee. He filed Limited Activity for January 2023. His October 2022 Report shows $462 raised, spent $876, $21,254.66 on hand, $0 debt. He sold his campaign’s email list to Korede Inc, Ronke Faleti’s, his wife, business, for $412 according to the report.

Faleti ran unopposed in the 2020 Democratic Primary. He lost to Republican Jay Ashcroft, 36.4% to 60.5%.



Nasheed has a consultant business

Vintage postcard of Missouri State Capitol

On October 28, 2020, Jamilah Nasheed and LaTanya Reeves organized a business, a Limited Liability Corporation, with the Missouri Secretary of State. At the time, Nasheed was a Missouri State Senator, and would be so for another two months, and Reeves worked in Mayor Lyda Krewson’s office.

Many state legislators own businesses and work at jobs other than their elected positions. In 2018, however, 62% of Missourians approved Constitutional Amendment 1 (Clean Missouri), which included an increase from six months to two years for the waiting period for legislators to become lobbyists.

Nasheed’s may have violated that constitutional provision by organizing Ignite Strategic Consulting, purpose: “Governmental and political consulting and all other purposes allowable by law.”

At the very least, Nasheed violated the intent of the law- to stop the revolving door of state legislators cashing in on their elected office cachet- and she did so in a deceitful manner.

Reeves was the agent of record until August 2, 2022, when Nasheed replaced her, per filing with Secretary of State. Nasheed’s name would not show up on a records check prior to the August change. Was the business interest disclosed to Governor Mike Parson before he appointed her to the Board of Probation and Parole?

In addition to her work on the Board, Nasheed is a well known advocate and activist for privatization of public schools. But, as of today, she is not a registered lobbyist nor has ever been, per a search at Missouri Ethics Commission.

The St. Louis City address of the business should also be a concern. It’s the same address as State Representative Rasheen Aldridge.

Disclosure: I endorsed Jamilah Nasheed for Board President in 2019. We have since parted ways.