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Gov. Parson may call special session; not looking to dump Greitens’ cabinet

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson delivers remarks after being sworn in on Friday.
Carolina Hidalgo | St. Louis Public Radio
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson delivers remarks after being sworn in on Friday.

Updated at 9:54 p.m. with the hiring of Parson's chief of staff - Mike Parson kicked off his first full week as Missouri’s governor by meeting with the state’s cabinet members, all chosen by his predecessor, Eric Greitens.

The meeting was held Monday in private, inside the governor’s office, but Parson did briefly meet with reporters beforehand. He said he has no intention of replacing any of Greitens’ chosen agency heads.

“Gov. Greitens brought together a good team to the state of Missouri,” he said. “All I want to do is be a resource for them – I want to work with the cabinet because there are a lot of good things going on in the state of Missouri and we need to continue the things that are good.”

Parson has made at least three new hires, though. Aaron Willard has been tabbed as chief of staff. He also served as chief of staff for former House Speaker Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill, and more recently for former State Sen. Ryan Silvey, R-Kansas City. But perhaps the most significant item on Willard's resume is Missouri state director for Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.

Justin Alferman, R-Hermann, has resigned his seat in the Missouri House to become the new governor’s legislative director. Steele Shippy has been brought on board as communications director; he had been serving as deputy chief of staff for Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft.

Kelli Jones, who worked as Parson’s communications coordinator when he was lieutenant governor, will likely become press secretary.

Parson also said he’s open to calling a special legislative session to address the current vacancy in the lieutenant governor’s office. The state constitution addresses filling vacancies for every statewide office except the one that Parson just left in order to take over as governor.

“I don’t like the state of Missouri being without a lieutenant governor, and for me I aim to use that position to help with this transition,” he said. “If there’s ever a time those two offices need to be working together, it’s now.”

Parson didn’t mention any possible date for a special session.

In November 2000, Gov. Roger Wilson appointed Joe Maxwell to fill the then-vacant lieutenant governor’s office. However, Maxwell had been elected to the position and at the time was waiting to be inaugurated the following January. The month prior, Wilson took over as governor after the death of Mel Carnahan.

Parson also received a phone call Monday morning from U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue.

“He’s offered his services to Missouri, whatever he can do in that arena,” Parson said.

Follow Marshall on Twitter: @MarshallGReport

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Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.
Marshall Griffin
St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.