Politics

Nixon Stands Behind Nominee For Missouri Parole Board

St. Louis Public Radio | By Marshall Griffin,

Marshall Griffin

Published January 9, 2014 at 4:49 PM CST

Former Mo. State Rep. Dennis Fowler (R, Advance), has been nominated by Gov. Jay Nixon (D) to fill a seat on the State Board of Probation and Parole.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is defending his choice to fill a vacancy on the state Board of Probation and Parole.

Nixon nominated state Rep. Dennis Fowler, R-Advance, to the board last month; Fowler then gave up his seat in the Missouri House for the appointment. Fowler also happens to be one of the so-called "famous 15" House Republicans who voted against overriding Nixon's veto of a controversial tax cut bill (House Bill 253) last year. Nixon, a Democrat, told reporters Thursday that Fowler's vote had nothing to do with his appointment to the parole board.

"Dennis has a 38-year career in law enforcement, and like others, I think he's highly qualified, highly capable, to serve on that board," Nixon said. "It's (an) important posting – you want to put people on Probation and Parole that have a significant background (in that area)."

Fowler's appointment, though, depends on Senate confirmation, and several Republican senators say they'll block his appointment because of Fowler's vote last fall to support Nixon's tax cut veto. None of the Republicans contacted by St. Louis Public Radio and the Beacon for comment have returned calls.

Fowler's resignation from the Missouri House also left Republicans in that chamber one vote short of having a veto-proof majority.

A similar situation arose in December 2012 when Nixon appointed state Rep. Don Ruzicka, R-Mt. Vernon, to the same board. That move also temporarily winnowed the Republican majority in the Missouri House.

Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter: @MarshallGReport

Tags

Marshall Griffin

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.

See stories by Marshall Griffin

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.