University foundation to keep Cape license office

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Southeast Missouri State University Foundation will continue to operate the state drivers' and motor vehicle licensing office in Cape Girardeau but will likely lose the contract it currently holds for the Jackson office.

Southeast president Dr. Ken Dobbins said the foundation wanted to concentrate on one office and didn't actively pursue renewal of the Jackson contract with Gov. Matt Blunt.

"Quite frankly, the geographic separation of the two offices created some challenges," Dobbins said. "We said we'd like to keep just the Cape office."

The Missouri Department of Revenue announced on Wednesday who will get contracts to operate 118 of the 171 privately run fee offices throughout the state. The Jackson office was one of several offices in Southeast Missouri on which no decision has yet been made.

Blunt spokesman Spence Jackson said the remaining contracts will be awarded within the next few weeks.

Other area offices still in limbo include those in Chaffee, Marble Hill and Poplar Bluff.

The license office contracts are among the last remnants of the political patronage system in Missouri. The governor, through his revenue department director, determines who runs the offices, with the contracts typically going to his political supporters. Some offices, however, are given to community service organizations or charitable groups, such as Southeast's fund-raising foundation.

After 12 years of Democratic governors controlling the contracts, widespread turnover was expected with Blunt, a Republican, in office. Of the 118 contracts announced Wednesday, 80 went to new individuals or groups.

The Cape Girardeau office is the only one in the region announced to date that isn't slated to change hands. Gov. Mel Carnahan, a Democrat, gave the foundation the contracts for the Cape Girardeau and Jackson offices in 1993.

Dobbins said the two operations combined typically cleared between $50,000 and $75,000 in annual profit. Dobbins estimated that the loss of the Jackson office, the smaller of the two, will cost the foundation about $25,000 a year, though perhaps less.

"We are very pleased we are going to retain the Cape office," Dobbins said. "The money we generate there will continue to go into need-based financial aid for high-needs students."

One notable change in area license office agents is in Perryville, where Perry County Commissioner Pat Naeger won the contract. Naeger, a Republican former state representative, will take over for current agent Martha Merrill.

Under a policy directive Blunt announced last month, the fee agents will now be required to be open at least one Saturday a month. The new contracts will also establish financial penalties for agents who fail to comply with applicable laws and additional state oversight. Blunt also wants to turn over the 11 state-run license offices, none of which are in Southeast Missouri, to private contractors.

Democrats in the House of Representatives have proposed legislation to end political patronage in the awarding of license office contracts. Their plan would require the contracts be submitted to competitive bid, with any profits for the state being earmarked for education.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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