Blunt moving slow to fill spot on highways commission

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Governors typically pounce on the opportunity to fill vacancies on the powerful Missouri State Highways and Transportation Commission. Gov. Matt Blunt, however, is taking his time.

Although a Democratic position on the governing body of the Missouri Department of Transportation opened 11 weeks ago, the Republican governor's spokesman said he is in no hurry to fill it. Under the Missouri Constitution, the seat's current occupant, the Rev. Wallace Hartsfield of Kansas City, continues to serve until a replacement is chosen.

Hartsfield's post was one of two that opened on March 1. Blunt appointed Republican Mike Kehoe, a Jefferson City car dealer, to the other on April 14. The GOP-led Senate confirmed Kehoe on May 5.

Since the legislature adjourned for the year on Friday, if Blunt appoints someone to replace Hartsfield in the interim, the person would begin serving immediately and not face Senate confirmation until January.

"For now we are going to keep him on the commission," said Spence Jackson, Blunt's spokesman. "The governor intends to weigh his options in regard to making a recess appointment or waiting until the Senate reconvenes. No firm decision has been made."

With an interim appointment, Blunt potentially could fill the post, at least temporarily, with someone who might have had a difficult time getting confirmed this year.

Since Hartsfield is the only person on the six-member commission from Kansas City, conventional political wisdom says his replacement will be as well. However, it was also expected that the seat Kehoe now holds would go to someone from rural northern Missouri.

Kehoe's selection angered northern Missouri interests who had wanted the governor to reappoint Republican Larry Webber of Mexico. As things currently stand, the commission has no member from north of the Missouri River.

Jackson said the governor isn't committed to appointing someone from Kansas City or any other particular region.

"We are going to pick the best person regardless of where they are from," Jackson said.

Through an interim appointment of someone from rural northern Missouri, Blunt could satisfy those he upset with his last nomination while giving him several months to smooth over the slight to Kansas City.

State Sen. Matt Bartle, a member of the Senate Transportation Committee, said he has had no conversations with the governor's office concerning the matter but anticipates the next commissioner will be from the Kansas City region.

"Given that this is the second most populous region of the state, I can't imagine that the governor would proceed with a commission that doesn't have the Kansas City metro area represented," said Bartle, R-Lee's Summit.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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