Former Missouri officials helping Greitens with transition

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Former Republican state House Speaker Catherine Hanaway and former state treasurer Sarah Steelman are among big names in Missouri politics helping GOP Gov.-elect Eric Greitens transition to power.

Greitens will be the first governor in a century without prior experience in elected office when he succeeds Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon in January.

He ran as an outsider candidate and during the campaign sharply criticized those he described as career politicians.

He now is trying to balance new faces with help from politically experienced public servants as he prepares to take office.

Hanaway, who also served as a U.S. attorney and lost to Greitens in a four-way GOP primary, is among knowledgeable former public servants helping direct Greitens' transition, spokesman Parker Briden said.

Briden also confirmed Steelman, who unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate in 2012, and her husband, former state Rep. David Steelman, are advising Greitens.

Former state House Budget Committee chairman Rick Stream said he's helping Greitens navigate the state's $27 billion budget.

Some of Greitens' core campaign staff members also are staying with him during the transition.

His campaign manager, Austin Chambers, is his senior adviser. Campaign treasurer Jeff Stuerman is sitting in on budget briefings.

Briden, who also helped during the campaign, said an official announcement on other members of Greitens' transition team is expected in December.