Nixon Names More than 100 Missourians to Serve as Citizen Transition Advisers

Citizen Advisers Across State Will Help Recruit Broad-Based, Highly Qualified Pool of Applicants for Nixon Administration (Press Release) JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Gov.-elect Jay Nixon yesterday named more than 100 Missourians to serve as Citizen Transition Advisers, enlisting their help in finding the best and brightest leaders across the state to apply for positions in his new administration. Many of these Advisers joined Gov.-elect Nixon for an orientation session yesterday in Jefferson City. Gov.-elect Jay Nixon and Mrs. Georganne Nixon stand with more than 100 Citizen Transition Advisers from across Missouri. Gov.-elect Nixon has asked these advisers to help him develop the most highly qualified, most diverse applicant pool possible for his administration. These Citizen Transition Advisers, who hail from all walks of life and every region of Missouri, will help recruit potential members of Gov.-elect Nixon's administration in their home communities. Gov.-elect Nixon's goal in appointing the Advisers was to bring new energy to state government by developing the most qualified, most diverse applicant pool possible. "A new spirit of public service is sweeping across Missouri and the nation," Gov.-elect Nixon said. "Like never before, professionals from business, academia and non-profits are considering opportunities to serve in government. I am committed to reaching out to every corner of Missouri to build the most talented, inclusive and energized administration possible. By appointing these Citizen Transition Advisers, we hope to discover great new public servants right in our own neighborhoods. Together, we will find the best team to overcome the challenges Missouri faces and move our state forward." Under the leadership of Gov.-elect Nixon, Transition Director Charles Burson and Transition Co-Chairs Nadia Cavner of Springfield, Phil Snowden of Kansas City and Ronnie White of St. Louis, the Citizen Transition Advisers will work to identify individuals who have the expertise to help make state government more efficient, effective and accountable. More than 100 individuals from across the state will serve in this important role, including: Kansas City and Northwest Missouri Region Shari Bax, professor, Warrensburg Jim Bergfalk, consultant, Independence Donna Birks, UAW Local 31 Financial Secretary, Kansas City John Boyd, attorney, Kansas City John Bullard Jr., detective sergeant, Independence Enrique Chaurand, businessman, Kansas City Jennifer Dameron, attorney, Kansas City Rev. Jim Eller, minister, Kansas City Theresa Garza Ruiz, county legislator, Blue Springs Jim Giokaris, teacher, Lee's Summit Carlos Gomez, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President, Kansas City Miriam Hennosy, executive assistant, Kansas City Kenny Hensley, attorney, Raymore Theresa Hensley, Prosecuting Attorney, Raymore Joe Hudson, Carpenters District Council Political Director, Kansas City Angela Hunt, businesswoman, Kansas City Richard Martin, government affairs director, Kansas City Jane Quick, retiree, Liberty Terry Riley, City Councilman, Kansas City Clay Rodgers, IUPAT District 3 Political Director, Raytown Marilyn Shapiro, attorney, Kansas City Bill Skaggs, Mayor Pro Tem, Kansas City Sherwood Smith, Missouri State Firefighters President, Kansas City Vicki Tarpley, marketing representative, Lee's Summit Stephen Tinnen, publisher, Plattsburg Mike Veale, Northwest Missouri Labor Council President, St. Joseph Yolanda Wheat, attorney, Kansas City Ryan Williams, consultant, Kansas City Louie Wright, Firefighters Local 42 President, Kansas City Mid-Missouri Region DeeAnn Aull, education activist, Jefferson City Charles Ausfahl, farmer, Fulton Gracia Backer, former State Representative, New Bloomfield Merrel Breyer, cattleman, Richland Karen Edison, physician, Columbia Richard Frederick, attorney, Paris Luana Gifford, education activist, Jefferson City William (Bill) Gratz, realtor and farmer, Jefferson City George Hartsfield, non-profit administrator, Jefferson City Larry Kleffner, financial examiner, Jefferson City Pam Knoll, business-owner, Westphalia Bae Lee, international consultant, Rolla Jim Mathewson, former State Senator, Sedalia Jeff Mazur, labor AFSCME director, Ashland Adam McBride, LIUNA legislative director, Jefferson City Ron Monnig, computer specialist, Slater Rick Puig, student, Columbia Bill Ransdall, presiding county commissioner, Waynesville Bruce Wilson, retiree, Columbia North Missouri Region John Briscoe, attorney, New London Annie Dixon, retiree, Hannibal Irene Fish, postal worker, Kahoka Cheri Galaske, businesswoman, Moberly Laura Gruber, health care worker, Kirksville Lisa Hargrave, county clerk, Grant City Brent Mayberry, attorney, Kirksville Eddy Mitchell, farmer, Holliday Sean O'Brien, county commissioner, Elsberry Phil Smith, former State Representative, Bowling Green Tracy Smith, county clerk, Shelbina Norma Stack, retiree, Mexico Phil Tate, former State Representative, Kirksville Jim Whorton, former State Representative, Trenton John Yancey, former county commissioner, Hannibal Southeast Missouri Region Barry Aycock, businessman, Parma Ron Bockenkamp, former State Representative, Farmington Art Cole, retiree, Poplar Bluff Rebecca M. Cook, former Missouri Secretary of State, Cape Girardeau Emily Firebaugh, forester, Farmington Jerry Ford, consultant, Cape Girardeau Tony Heckemeyer, former State Representative, Sikeston Betty Heckemeyer, retiree, Sikeston Lance Mayfield, insurance agent, Viburnum Gene Oakley, county commissioner, Van Buren C. H. Parsons, attorney, Dexter Mike Ponder, attorney, Cape Girardeau Marvin Proffer, former State Representative, Oakville Steve Vaughn, disability advocate, Viburnum Becky York, county clerk, Doniphan Southwest Region Leslie Anderson, businesswoman, Springfield Rita Baron, businesswoman, Springfield Joe Carmichael, attorney, Springfield Darrell and Wanda Cope, retiree, Hartville Katie Steele Danner, consultant, Hollister William Fischbach, businessman, Branson Carolyn Hembree, professor, Springfield Jim Kreider, former Speaker, Missouri House of Representatives, Nixa Debra Lowther, film and television producer, Hollister B.J. Marsh, State Representative, Springfield Jeff Miller, criminal investigation manager, Springfield Travis Morrison, businessman, West Plains Marilyn Nolan, non-profit administrator, Springfield Jamie Schoolcraft, Mayor, Willard Bill Stancer, retiree, Cabool Andy Wood, attorney, Neosho Chuck Wooten, former State Representative, Ozark St. Louis Region Sally Barker, attorney, St. Louis Susan Block, attorney, St. Louis Maida Coleman, State Senator, St. Louis Terry Crow, community outreach, St. Louis Susan Cunningham, retired teacher, Pacific Jim Dougherty, labor union president, St. Louis Vivian Eveloff, Sue Shear Institute Director, St. Louis Sheila Forrest, businesswoman, St. Louis Ron Fox, attorney, St. Louis Patrick Green, businessman, St. Louis Gene Kappler, labor union business agent, St. Louis Jo Ann Karll, attorney, High Ridge M'evie Mead, community organizer, St. Louis Ron Neubauer, former police chief, St. Peters Len Pagano, Mayor, St. Peters Joseph Palm, community health director, St. Louis Brynn Palmer, communications specialist, St. Peters Douglas Parham, pastor, University City Lori Rassmussen, community activist, Chesterfield Lewis Reed, aldermanic president, St. Louis Nick Robinson, UAW Region 5 political director, Hazelton Robert Soutier, St. Louis AFL-CIO President, Bridgeton Jim Tusher, disability advocate, St. Louis Willie Taylor, investigator, Ballwin Betty Van Uum, university administrator, St. Louis Jim Webb, Minority Business Council, St. Louis Mark Woolbright, Firefighters District Two International Vice President, St. Peters Following yesterday's orientation session, these Citizen Transition Advisers now are returning to their communities to encourage local residents to apply for positions with Gov.-elect Nixon's administration. The Advisers will reach out to business, civic and organizational leaders to urge these individuals to submit their applications through Gov.-elect Nixon's Transition Team Web site: http://www.govelect.mo.gov/join/ In the coming weeks, Gov.-elect Nixon will appoint numerous department directors and other key leaders to serve in his administration beginning Jan. 12. Under state law, the Governor is responsible for appointing the leaders of the following departments: Office of Administration Department of Agriculture Department of Corrections Department of Economic Development Department of Health and Senior Services Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Department of Natural Resources Department of Public Safety Department of Revenue Department of Social Services -- http://MissouriNetizen.com http://www.bransonedge.com http://www.bransonmissouri.missourinetizen.com