Republicans pick Southeast Missouri lawmaker for top spot in state Senate

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Southeast Missouri Sen. Rob Mayer emerged the victor Thursday in a Republican leadership shake-up that revealed divisions in the chamber's largest GOP majority since at least the Civil War era.

Mayer, of Dexter, was nominated for Senate president pro tem -- the chamber's top position -- with the backing a coalition of conservative colleagues frustrated about the inability of Republicans to advance a strong agenda in recent years.

He prevailed in a closed-door meeting over Senate Majority Leader Kevin Engler, of Farmington, who traditionally would have ascended to the top position.

But it was not a resounding victory. After several tied votes between Mayer and Engler, the senators drew lots to select a winner.

Engler was noticeably absent as most of the 26 incumbent or newly elected Republican senators stood around Mayer in a show of unity at a Capitol news conference.

Mayer said Republicans were "committed to working as a team" to advance a pro-business agenda, and he asserted: "There is a conservative bent now to this legislature."

Republicans appeared to gain three Senate seats and 17 House seats in Tuesday's elections, which would give them a 26-8 majority over Democrats in the Senate and a 106-57 majority over Democrats in the House.

Engler expressed a sense of hurt that Mayer -- who he said had previously supported him -- was persuaded to run against him.

"I worked hard for two years, I was honest with everybody, I never lied to anyone and I thought we did a good job and we got three more people elected -- and I should be fired?" Engler said. "They want to go to a much more conservative agenda."

Sen. Jim Lembke, R-St. Louis, who was among those backing Mayer's candidacy, said the ascension of a more conservative Republican leadership appropriately reflected the outcome of Tuesday's elections across the nation.

The results of Thursday's Republican caucus decision for president pro tem still must be ratified by the full chamber. The pro tem is elected in January by a vote of both Republicans and Democrats.

In 1981, when Democrats controlled the Senate, a divided majority caucus nominated Democratic Sen. Phil Snowden for pro tem. But a coalition of Democrats teamed up with minority Republicans and ultimately elected Democratic Sen. Norman Merrell as pro tem.

Senate Democrats on Thursday re-elected Sen. Victor Callahan, D-Independence, as their minority leader. Callahan said he would work well with either Mayer or Engler.

Senate Republicans chose Sen. Tom Dempsey, of St. Peters, to succeed Engler as majority leader in another close vote Thursday against Sen. Brad Lager, R-Savannah, who was aligned with the more conservative coalition.

Dempsey has been a leading sponsor of economic development bills in past years, often backing expanded tax incentives for businesses. Other Republicans have sought in recent years to rein in state tax credits because of budgetary concerns.

House Majority Leader Steven Tilley, R-Perryville, is expected to be elected in January as House speaker, which is that chamber's top position. House Republicans on Wednesday nominated Rep. Shane Schoeller, of Willard, as speaker pro tem and Rep. Tim Jones, of Eureka, as majority leader.

House Democrats on Thursday chose Rep. Mike Talboy, D-Kansas City, as the minority leader.