GOP lawmakers expect smooth working relationship with new governor

Transition process begins

Republican Eric Greitens, elected as Missouri governor on Nov. 8, 2016, speaks to voters at the Missouri Chamber of Commerce in Jefferson City on Friday, October 21, 2016.
Republican Eric Greitens, elected as Missouri governor on Nov. 8, 2016, speaks to voters at the Missouri Chamber of Commerce in Jefferson City on Friday, October 21, 2016.

There's an official transition process that happens every time a statewide office changes hands, because the election winner wasn't the incumbent.

With Tuesday's election results, five of the six statewide offices are changing hands - and political parties.

"I've been in the community from a business standpoint, and I've seen what happens when (government goes) from Democrat to Republican or Republican to Democrat," Senate Majority Leader Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, told the News Tribune last week, "and there is some shuffling - but it always seems like it works out well because talented people end up working for folks no matter, sometimes, what party they're in.

"I think it will actually end up being OK for us (in Mid-Missouri)."

Missouri law sets the transition process for all six statewide offices - governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer and auditor.

For Gov.-elect Eric Greitens, the process began Thursday with meetings with outgoing Gov. Jay Nixon and with the state Senate's Republican leadership.

"I look forward to his assistance during the transition," Greitens said in a statement after meeting with Nixon for about 90 minutes. "The most important thing we can do is to ensure a smooth transition so our government continues to serve the people of Missouri well."

Nixon issued his own statement about the meeting: "We had an open, constructive discussion, and I provided him with my perspective as a two-term governor and as someone who has been in public service to the state for 30 years."

Nixon said he's confident Greitens and his team "have the same goal as I and my administration have: to ensure that we have a transition that best serves the six million people of Missouri."

In a telephone news conference Friday, Greitens spokesman Austin Chambers told reporters the governor-elect expects to have his transition team in place by the end of this week.

And Attorney General-elect Josh Hawley said Friday his transition advisory committee met Thursday with members of current Attorney General Chris Koster's office "to ensure a smooth transition."

State law says, for all six statewide offices, the transition process officially begins Nov. 15 and continues through Inauguration Day.

The law specifies the maximum amount each incoming office holder can spend on the transition process:

Governor, $100,000.

Lieutenant governor, $5,000.

And $10,000 each for attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer and auditor.

The law requires all funds not used for the transition period shall revert to general revenue.

The Office of Administration also is required to supply office space in Jefferson City - either in leased or state-owned facilities - as well as office equipment for the transition teams.

Kehoe acknowledged Greitens - a former Navy SEAL who's headed a charity but never served in elected office - faces "an incredible learning curve."

But, Kehoe told the News Tribune, "He's an unbelievable reader, is what I found out. And he loves to digest information.

"So, while you might have seen him on the campaign trail or in a commercial, I think behind the scenes he's been studying and trying to get up to speed for months and months and months.

"He just didn't start on Tuesday night."

Kehoe said there are two issues he hopes Greitens will learn about quickly.

"My conversation with him locally is going to concentrate largely on the importance of state employees - how long we've worked at trying to get through the compensation study and the compensation package," Kehoe said, "and what is the long-term for good employment with good benefits, and what is the proper pay with our state employees.

"And, obviously, the remodeling we've got going on with the Capitol Building here - somebody who's never been involved and has just walked in the door, that's a tough thing to get up-to-speed on."

Still, Kehoe told reporters Thursday after the Senate Republicans met with Greitens in a closed-door caucus: "He's a very sharp person who really understands the facts and understands the layout of the land better than probably most people would give him credit for, for being a novice."

Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard, R-Joplin, told reporters the GOP caucus members had a good meeting with Greitens - and Richard is not concerned with Greitens' lack of experience in government.

"When I was elected (to the House) in 2002, I didn't have any experience either," Richard said. "Before I was the mayor of Joplin, I didn't have any experience.

"You have to learn."

Greitens campaigned on a promise to "clean-up" Jefferson City and its "crooked politicians."

Richard said that campaign promise shouldn't create a problem for lawmakers in working with the new governor.

"I'm not corrupt," he said, "so I don't worry about it."

House Speaker Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, had communicated with Greitens by email but had not met with the governor-elect when he told reporters Wednesday he also isn't concerned with Greitens' campaign attacks on Capitol politicians.

"None of us (in the House) have been here longer than six years," Richardson explained, as members of the 117-member House GOP caucus stood behind him. "Each of us ran on a platform of change and taking the state in a new direction.

"People want to see Missouri move in a better direction."

Kehoe agreed there should be no problems with the GOP-controlled Legislature working with the new Republican governor.

"I don't consider myself a corrupt person," he said. "I don't consider the senators I serve with on either side of the aisle (to be) corrupt people.

"It is what it is - that's what you do in a campaign."

Richard said Greitens understands there is a bureaucracy to work with, but coming in new, "You don't come in with a pre-conceived knowledge, and you don't have this entrenched bureaucracy that's been here for a number of years, keeping ideas that are not necessarily in the best interests of taxpayers."

Greitens and his staff didn't respond to a News Tribune request for an interview, and in general, the governor-elect hasn't given post-election interviews to reporters anywhere in the state.

Some of the comments used in this story were taken from recordings provided by the House and Senate Communications offices.