MD PoliBlog

Sedgwick County commissioners snipe over manager

Sedgwick County commissioners snipe over manager:

Commissioners Kelly Parks and Gwen Welshimer said Friday that they did talk to the county's lawyer about a motion for a closed-door session to discuss the possible firing of the Sedgwick County manager.

On Wednesday, they had denied requesting such a motion, as did the three other commissioners.

Parks and Welshimer say they didn't 'request' the motion but 'talked about' one with deputy county counselor Jennifer Magana.

(Via Kansas.com: Local Government.)

Culver: $100M for road, bridge projects released next week

Culver: $100M for road, bridge projects released next week: "Gov. Chet Culver this morning announced roughly $100 million in road and bridge projects through a program that will pump Iowa’s debt up by more than $600 million."

(Via DesMoinesRegister.com - Politics.)

Poplstein to Run Nodler's Campaign

Poplstein to Run Nodler's Campaign:

State Sen. Gary Nodler's congressional campaign is expected to announce later today that Chuck Poplstein will sign on as campaign manager, The Notebook has learned.

Poplstein most recently worked on John McCain's 2008 presidential effort in the Show-Me State, as the 72-hour director for the Missouri GOP. Prior to that, he served as a field director for Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign in the primary state of South Carolina.

Poplstein also worked in the field on Sen. Jim Talent's 2006 re-election campaign and was a legislative liaison at the state Department of Higher Education.

The hire of Poplstein ends speculation about who will be handling day-to-day activities for Nodler's campaign. Political operative Gregg Keller will be doing general consulting for Nodler, but is also running a U.S. Senate race in Connecticut.

Nodler is running against State Sen. Jack Goodman, auctioneer Billy Long, Greene County prosecutor Darrell Moore and Ozarks Technical Community College instructor Jeff Wisdom to replace Congressman Roy Blunt.

(Via KY3 Political Notebook.)

Dooley Re-election Campaign

Dooley Re-election Campaign:

Former Missouri Democratic Party Chair, and recent appointee to the Missouri Housing Development Committee, John Temporiti is serving both as St. Louis County Executive Charles Dooley’s campaign treasurer and campaign manager.

The Dooley campaign plans to repeat their 2006 fundraising goals, raising $2 million total, half of that this year. Although facing a more vigorous challenge from attorney Bill Corrigan, Temporiti is brimming with confidence, not greatly worried about an Obama Backlash.

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(Via Arch City Chronicle News.)

Schodorf explores Congress run

Schodorf explores Congress run:

State Sen. Jean Schodorf on Monday took the first step toward entering the race for the 4th District congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Todd Tiahrt.

Schodorf, R-Wichita, announced that she was forming an exploratory committee and starting a listening tour that will take her to every county in the district, which covers most of south-central and parts of southeastern Kansas.

She said she is troubled by the recession, job losses and government budget cuts and plans to speak to as many residents and local officials as possible. She said she wants to gauge how they're being affected and hear their ideas for recovery.

(Via Kansas.com: Local Government.)

Tiahrt votes against ‘pay-go’; Moran for it

Tiahrt votes against ‘pay-go’; Moran for it:

Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, was the only Kansan in the U.S. House to vote last week against ‘pay-as-you-go,’ or ‘pay-go’ — rules mandating that Congress pay for tax cuts or spending increases. Tiahrt said the measure wouldn’t be effective. ‘The lack of fiscal restraint and numerous spending loopholes left a pay-go shell that only encourages tax increases,’ he said in a statement. Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Hays, wanted even more restrictive rules but supported the legislation as ‘a modest effort to control government spending and decrease our bloated government programs.’ Reps. Lynn Jenkins, R-Topeka, and Dennis Moore, D-Lenexa, also voted for ‘pay-go.’

(Via WE Blog.)

The ghost of South Metro Connector

The ghost of South Metro Connector:

 Its starting again.

The residents in southeast Johnson County are getting restless over some proposals to put a couple rural roads on the countys future road plan.

A flier sounding the alarm has gone out from the South Metro Opposition Coalition (SMOC for those in the know) warning about the road proposals to be added to the county plan.

The proposals include:

-- Complete 183rd Street between Nall Avenue and Mission Road. This could be built in 2012. Its in the area of the new Blue Valley Southwest High School, which is scheduled to open in 2010.

The cost of building the road  is estimated at $4 million. The county wants to build this two-lane road with six-foot shoulders at a design speed of 45 mph.

-- Upgrading Nall Avenue between 167th Street and 175th Street. This would help deal with an increasing need for paved north-south roads in southeast JOCO.  There are no immediate plans to upgrade this largely gravel road, county officials say.  Maybe 10 years or more until the work might get done, they say

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(Via KansasCity.com Prime Buzz - Today's political intelligence and insight.)

Nixon, governors, mayor sign high-speed rail deal

Nixon, governors, mayor sign high-speed rail deal:

Gov. Jay Nixon and other Midwestern governors have reached an agreement to cooperate in the pursuit of high-speed rail for Missouri and other surrounding states.

Nixons office released this statement this morning:

Nixon, the governors of seven other Midwestern states and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley have pledged to work cooperatively to obtain funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to develop high-speed rail service between Midwest cities, branching out from a hub in Chicago.

One of the first priorities of the group is to develop a high-speed rail corridor between Chicago and St. Louis, Nixon said, with a second group of projects that would include the corridor from St. Louis to Kansas City.

read more

(Via KansasCity.com Prime Buzz - Today's political intelligence and insight.)

GOP gubernatorial prospects outline themes at forum

GOP gubernatorial prospects outline themes at forum: "Divisions among Republicans weighing campaigns for Iowa governor emerged on hot-button issues Wednesday during a forum in Des Moines."

(Via DesMoinesRegister.com - Politics.)

Donaldson Out

Donaldson Out: "

Convoy of Hope President Hal Donaldson has decided against a run for the 7th District Congressional seat, a knowledgeable Republican tells The Notebook.

Donaldson first announced he was forming an exploratory committee back in March and hired on Republican communications operative Spence Jackson, who worked for former Gov. Matt Blunt and former Treasurer Sarah Steelman.

Jackson's hire was a sign Donaldson was serious about the contest, but after forming a committee he never made any public pronouncements about his candidacy. A Donaldson ally said the Convoy president wanted to make a final decision by the end of the month and has pretty much done so.

Donaldson's decision against a run to replace Blunt leaves the following 5 Republican contenders with active campaigns: State Sen. Jack Goodman, State Sen. Gary Nodler, auctioneer Billy Long, Greene County prosecutor Darrell Moore and Ozarks Technical Community College instructor Jeff Wisdom.

To read the Notebook's most recent 7th District Power Rankings, click HERE

* Next power rankings to be published July 31st*

(Via KY3 Political Notebook.)