Gov. gets new chief of staff

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The only person to have served as chief of staff for Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is stepping down.

Nixon said Wednesday that chief of staff John Watson will be replaced in December by Chris Pieper, who currently is the governor's senior legal and policy adviser.

Watson has been Nixon's chief of staff since he became governor in 2009 and held the same role since 1997 when Nixon was attorney general. Nixon said Watson will remain as a senior adviser.

Nixon also announced the appointment of Nia Ray as director of the Department of Revenue, effective Dec. 1. The appointment needs confirmation by the state Senate.

Ray currently heads the Division of Employment Security within the state labor department.

Acting revenue director John Mollenkamp will return to his role as deputy director.