JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – In what might be the final meeting for awhile, due to the lack of a quorum, the Missouri Ethics Commission has elected a new chair and vice chair for its six-member panel.
Thursday’s scheduled open to the public portion of the meeting only lasted about seven minutes, with the commission approving minutes from two previous meetings.
Commissioner Kim Benjamin was unable to attend the meeting, due to being at a trial, and Commissioner Eric Dirks was also out of town, but the rest attended by phone, except Vice Chair Bill Deeken, who was there in person.
March 15 marked the end of the terms for three commissioners: Republican Bill Deeken, Democrat Nancy Hagan, and Democrat Eric Dirks.
And with the chair and vice chair on their way out, the commission voted to elect a new chair and vice.
Don Summers was named the new chairman, with Kim Benjamin serving as the vice chair.
The commissioners also received an update on bills before the legislature, noting that the lobbyist gift ban bill sponsored by Rep. Justin Alferman still sits on the Senate’s informal calendar, but could come up for debate sometime after spring break.
They also noted that HB 2223, sponsored by Rep. David Gregory, another one they’ve been watching, just had a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee.
The next scheduled meeting is April 25 at 9 a.m. via teleconference.
Benjamin Peters was a reporter for The Missouri Times and Missouri Times Magazine and also produced the #MoLeg Podcast. He joined The Missouri Times in 2016 after working as a sports editor and TV news producer in mid-Missouri. Benjamin is a graduate of Missouri State University in Springfield.
