This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, April 20, 2009 - Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon announced on Monday a bunch of appointments to various boards. Those of interest to the St. Louis area include:
-- Area lawyer John Temporiti to the Missouri Development Finance Board. Temporiti is a veteran Democratic activist, and just recently stepped down as head of the Missouri Democratic Party. He also has served as a top aide to St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, and currently is listed as the treasurer of Dooley's campaign committee.
As the governor's office explains: "The Missouri Development Finance Board administers a range of financing programs for Missouri business, local governments and state agencies; issues taxable or tax-exempt industrial revenue bonds or notes; and provides market rate or low-interest loans and grants to political subdivisions to fund public infrastructure improvements."
Among other things, the board hands out some of those development tax credits (including the ones for historic structures) that have prompted some legislative battles this session.
-- Winery executive Phillip C. Dressel, of Ladue, to the Missouri Wine and Grape Board. Dressel has served as president of Mount Pleasant Winery in Augusta for the last 15 years.
According to the governor's office: "The purpose of the board is to further the growth and development of the grape-growing industry in Missouri, and to foster the expansion of the grape market for Missouri grapes."
Campaign finance reports filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission show that, since 2006, Dressel or his relatives have given more than $7,500 to Nixon or the unsuccessful lieutenant governor bid last year of state Rep. Sam Page, D-Creve Coeur.
