JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Dan Kleinsorge, Executive Director of Missouri Farmers Care, will have a new office in the Capitol in 2015. Franklin County Senator-elect Dave Schatz announced earlier today that Kleinsorge would be joining as his Chief of Staff.
Kleinsorge, a Montgomery County-raised political science major, started his time in the Capitol back in 2007 as an intern for then-House Speaker Pro Tem Carl Bearden. Kleinsorge comes fresh from an early victory this summer. As Director of the MFC, Kleinsorge was elbow-deep in the battle to pass Amendment 1, otherwise known as “Right-to-Farm,” in August.
Amendment 1 began with an early lead, but a sudden, expensive, and last-minute effort largely from environmental groups nearly beat back the amendment.
“I’m really looking forward to getting to know [Schatz’s] district,” Kleinsorge. “I’ve learned a lot about the legislative process working on the Right-to-Farm Amendment. That was something that began on day one and wasn’t finished until the last day of session.”
Kleinsorge says his experience working the legislature, as well as his new depth of knowledge related to agriculture, will serve Schatz well in the coming term. Schatz wholeheartedly agreed.
“I’m excited to have him on board,” Schatz said. “I have no doubt he’s going to do good work for us. He’ll be very good for us.”
“Dan is a rising star in Missouri politics,” said Joe Lakin of Victory Enterprises, who is an advisor to Schatz. “While leading Missouri Farmers Care, he successfully delivered numerous wins for Missouri agriculture while cultivating the kind of meaningful relationships necessary to advance policy reforms through the legislature. He gets the people, the policy, and the politics. They will make a great team as Schatz begins his Senate career next month.”
Collin Reischman was the Managing Editor for The Missouri Times, and a graduate of Webster University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
