JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Gov. Mike Parson convened a handful of Missouri mayors and city officials in Springfield Friday to discuss violent crime in the state.
Parson, a former law enforcement officer, met with Columbia Mayor Brian Treece, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, Springfield Mayor Ken McClure, and St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson.
The mayors represent the four largest cities in the state and have pointed to gun violence as a “top concern,” according to a press release.
“As Governor and a former law enforcement officer for 22 years, protecting the citizens of our state is of utmost importance to my administration,” Parson said on social media. “We are committed to working with our local and federal partners in reducing violent crime across the state.”
The Mayors and public safety officials from Missouri’s 4 largest cities are working together on a common agenda to make our cities safe from violent crime. Full release at https://t.co/83cljSggrA pic.twitter.com/w62l8MCrLU
— City of Springfield (@CityofSgf) October 18, 2019
Parson started off the week by signing an executive order creating a statewide campaign to “educate, warn, and discourage vaping among Missouri’s youth.”
The executive order directed the Departments of Health and Senior Services, Elementary and Secondary Education, and Public Safety to coordinate the campaign within the next 30 days. Departments will have to use existing resources — meaning additional funding will not be thrown their way for the campaign.
The governor also made judicial appointments this week. He appointed former Democratic state Rep. Mike Colona as an associate circuit judge for the 22nd Judicial Circuit and Kevin Selby as a circuit judge for the 40th Judicial Circuit.
Parson and the first lady celebrated their wedding anniversary Sunday.
The Republican governor joined Tim Walz, the Democratic chief executive of Minnesota, in authoring an op-ed on criminal justice reform for Time.
Met with the Missouri Beer Wholesalers Association (MBWA), this morning.
Members shared their workforce concerns with me. Developing a skilled Missouri workforce helps companies, including beer manufacturers and distributors, call Missouri home. pic.twitter.com/DD52o3Bs58
— Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) October 15, 2019
Great to be back with @MissouriChamber for #Workforce2030. On top of this year’s legislative wins, we’ve had big wins in business investment and expansion.
Working together, we CAN create the strongest, most competitive, workforce for the next generation. #MissouriForward pic.twitter.com/plt77zXQWP
— Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) October 16, 2019
Our administration is laser-focused on workforce development, and we lead by example.
Glad to participate in #TheMissouriWay leadership training this morning. Our program is designed to equip managers & supervisors and to improve our work environment.#WeServeMO pic.twitter.com/YU3oqAeMXy
— Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) October 17, 2019
https://twitter.com/GovParsonMO/status/1184873709699551234
While in Columbia today we stopped to get some coffee and I had the chance to talk with a few @Mizzou students about how the semester was going.
Don’t worry moms, they’re “fine.” #MIZ pic.twitter.com/NKiS3WsbPB
— Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) October 17, 2019
A replica of the Betsy Ross flag made its way to Missouri on its journey to all 50 states in honor of first responders & military personnel.
Division of Employment Security employee Christy Severt from Holt Summit brought the flag to the Governor’s Office today. Thanks Christy! pic.twitter.com/2qM961gnUr
— Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) October 17, 2019
Kaitlyn Schallhorn was the editor in chief of The Missouri Times from 2020-2022. She joined the newspaper in early 2019 after working as a reporter for Fox News in New York City.
Throughout her career, Kaitlyn has covered political campaigns across the U.S., including the 2016 presidential election, and humanitarian aid efforts in Africa and the Middle East.
She is a native of Missouri who studied journalism at Winthrop University in South Carolina. She is also an alumna of the National Journalism Center in Washington, D.C.
Contact Kaitlyn at kaitlyn@themissouritimes.com.