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Governor-elect Matt Blunt has announced that Ken McClure will head his transition team. KSMU's Missy Shelton spoke with McClure by phone about how he'll help Blunt assemble his administration.
Missy: Ken, tell us what it means to head the transition for the incoming governor.
Ken: State statutes provide for a transition period. By state law, the governor-elect has the responsibility of putting together the budget that will also be recommended to the General Asslembly. So that process has started. There are other aspects. The staffing of the governor's office, determining who will head the state departments and who will be in the cabinet, developing a legislative package, all of those go into a transition process but certainly the main function initially will be focusing on the budget.
Missy: The budget is important because that's one of the first things lawmakers tackle when they come back in January.
Ken: Both chambers will be addressing the budget for their respective committees. The governor will be making recommendations in his State of the State address in January. But budget certainly is key and we'll be focusing on that and looking at the other aspects as well.
Missy: You mentioned the governor will appoint the heads of state departments. Maybe it's too early to talk about this but do you anticipate a lot of changes. I know Bob Holden kept on some department heads from the Carnahan administration but of course, in that case we were going from one democratic administration to another. So, do you have any idea what you'll be doing in that regard?
Ken: It's too early to tell how all that will take place. The assumption with a change of one party to another is that many if not all department heads will change. Govenror-elect Blunt wants to look at the qualifications of everyone who's interested so it's not clear how all of that will take place. He's indicated that naming his cabinet is a priority.
Missy: As for your personal involvement, describe your relationship to Blunt.
Ken: I've known Matt Blunt for 20 years. I've lived in Jefferson City. We attended the same church as his family. I was his high school Sunday School teacher so that's how I met him and we've kept in touch over the years. When he returned and was elected to the House from Greene County, through my involvement with City Utilities, we work with all our area legislators, then-representative Blunt was one of those. I've had a long time relationship with him in different capacities.
Missy: Thank you. I've bene speaking with Ken McClure. Just this week, Blunt named him to head his transition team for the governor's office. McClure has been working as a manager for City Utilities in Springfield.
