Blunt boots ex-senator Foster from state labor commission

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gov. Matt Blunt has chosen not to retain a prominent Southeast Missouri Republican on the state Labor and Industrial Relations Commission and nominated a Chillicothe woman for his position on Wednesday.

Bill Foster of Poplar Bluff, Mo., resigned from the Missouri Senate in September when former governor Bob Holden, a Democrat, appointed him to the commission, an administrative panel that hears appeals in workers' compensation and unemployment compensation cases.

Blunt picked Alice Bartlett, a personnel manager at Wire Rope Corp. of America Inc. in Chillicothe, as Foster's replacement. The appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.

Shortly after taking office in January, Blunt withdrew more than 100 pending Holden nominations, including Foster's, that hadn't yet been approved by the Senate. Foster, a longtime political supporter of Blunt and his father, U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, had hoped the new governor would resubmit his nomination.

Foster said he isn't disappointed Blunt chose to go with another candidate and is hopeful of being assigned another role in the administration.

"I am still talking to the governor's office," Foster said. "There are several opportunities to use my background in promoting efficiency in government."

After his nomination was withdrawn, Foster remained on the commission until Feb. 4, when a constitutional provision was triggered that forced him to step down even though a successor hadn't been named.

Blunt, who served with Foster in the House of Representatives, praised his former colleague as a "person of integrity" and dedicated public servant. However, Blunt said Bartlett, 61, was the best candidate for the post.

"I think a lot of Bill Foster," Blunt said. "I wanted to look at all of the available candidates, and I believe that Alice has the skill set and expertise to provide a good employer perspective on the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission."

The commission is composed of three members -- an employer representative, a labor representative and a public representative.

Bartlett is Blunt's second commission appointment. Last month he named Bill Ringer, a Kansas City lawyer and Dexter native, as commission chairman, the public's representative. The commission's labor representative is John Hickey, a Holden appointee and former state representative.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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