This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Feb. 3, 2010 - St. Louis lawyer John Temporiti, the former head of the Missouri Democratic Party and now the campaign manager for St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, appears to be out as Gov. Jay Nixon's appointee to the Missouri Housing Development Commission.
But maybe not.
A spokesman for the governor said that Temporiti's appointment was among 84 that died in the state Senate on Wednesday because of lack of confirmation within 30 days after the Senate went into session Jan. 3.
Nixon's staff is now reviewing the 84 to see which ones might be resubmitted, and which ones might be replaced, said press secretary Scott Holste.
He declined to discuss the prospects for any of the individual 84 nominees, including Temporiti. Temporiti had been serving on the commission temporarily, and won some praise from Nixon communications director Jack Cardetti in a comment a few weeks ago to the Columbia Tribune.
Even so, the GOP-controlled Senate had been expected to be a difficult hurdle for Temporiti, who has been a Republican target for some time. Last session, the Senate failed to act on Nixon's initial effort to name Temporiti to the Missouri Development Finance Board.
A few weeks ago, the state Republican Party filed an ethics complaint against Temporiti with the Missouri Ethics Commission, alleging that he had been engaging in illegal lobbying activities on behalf of St. Louis County.
Temporiti declined to return calls seeking comment Wednesday.
But state Republican Party executive director Lloyd Smith did offer a statement that signaled Temporiti remains in the GOP's sights.
“Jay Nixon exhibited appalling judgment by placing John Temporiti in a position of power and looking the other way while he brazenly violated the public’s trust," Smith said. "Nixon only changed his mind when Republican senators announced that they would not allow a nominee under a cloud of suspicion to serve on a commission funded by Missouri taxpayers....”
