Republicans look to Emerson's chief of staff for statewide success

The Missouri Republican Party got mixed signals during the 2008 election cycle. Voters retained GOP majorities in the Missouri Legislature, but Democrats took all but two statewide contests and secured the biggest prize of all, the governor's chair.

Over the weekend, a longtime fixture of the Southeast Missouri political scene, Lloyd Smith of Sikeston, Mo., was given the job of turning local victories into statewide success. Smith, who is currently chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, will become executive director of the state Republican Party on April 1. Jared Craighead, who Smith is replacing, said he is leaving to pursue new opportunities after three years on the job.

The next 20 months, Smith said, will be a time to bring fresh perspective to the Republican message without limiting its reach. "The party in the present climate is the loyal opposition. We have to have ideas of our own, to show that we are for something but not in all cases what the present Democratic majority under Obama stands for."

In an interview Monday, Emerson said she supports her longtime aide's job change.

"I am sad, but I will tell you it is certainly a wonderful, wonderful opportunity for the party and for him," Emerson said. "Under those circumstances, it is hard to try to convince him to stay."

Smith takes over a party with good fundraising operations and a well-organized get-out-the vote effort, especially in rural areas. That strength helped give Missouri to U.S. Sen. John McCain in the presidential election, making it the only battleground state to swing to the GOP.

But the party has been weakening in suburban areas, especially in St. Louis County. One of Smith's biggest challenges, several GOP officials said, is to reverse that decline.

"A job that Lloyd has, and myself as well, is to reach out and find common ground, a message that minorities in the state can get behind like school choice and economic development in the cities," said House Majority Leader Steve Tilley of Perryville. "What we have got to get away from, even if it is just a perception, is that our party is intolerant of different ideas. Lloyd is the right kind of guy to develop an plan and strategy to do that."

Years of experience

Smith, 57, has been a Congressional staff aide since 1981, first for Bill Emerson and then for Jo Ann Emerson. He has held a variety of jobs, including district director and agricultural assistant. He directed Bill Emerson's 1986, 1988 and 1990 re-election campaigns and served as political director of Jo Ann Emerson's election in 1996 and her re-election in 1998. He managed former U.S. senator Jim Talent's successful campaign in 2002 and was Missouri director for President George W. Bush's re-election victory in 2004. His only loss as a campaign manager was in 2006, when Talent lost to Claire McCaskill.

Emerson also credits Smith with helping transform the 28-county area covered by the Eighth Congressional District from a Democratic stronghold to one where 14 of 20 state representatives and seven of eight state Senators are Republicans.

That background has made him well known and trusted by Republicans from across the state, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder said.

"Lloyd has a great knowledge of grassroots campaigning," Kinder said. "That is what we Republicans have to get back to. Lloyd has a most congenial manner, and that endears him to folks."

As chief of staff to Emerson, Smith receives a salary of $162,000 a year. Jared Craighead, current executive director of the state party, is paid $150,000 annually. Smith said the details of his pay package are still being worked out.

Challenges ahead

In 2010, Republicans will be working to hold the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, who will step down after 24 years in office. The party also must try to hold its legislative majorities in the election that will decide who gets to redraw the state's congressional districts in 2011.

Because of term limits, at least 55 seats in the Missouri House will be up for grabs, with 36 held by Republicans. The GOP holds an 89-74 edge, which means a shift of eight seats would put Democrats in control.

"Finding quality candidates for those seats and making sure we win those seats is an extremely important aspect of the job," Smith said.

Smith said he and his wife Marlys will keep their home in Sikeston and rent a place to live in Jefferson City.

rkeller@semissourian.com

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