State legislative parties pick new leadership
The parties in the Missouri General Assembly met today to pick leaders for the upcoming legislative session.
The Senate Republicans picked Kevin Engler of Farmington as Majority Floor Leader, replacing Charlie Shields of St. Joseph, who the caucus will likely elect as President Pro Tem to replace Michael Gibbons, who has reached his term limit. Jack Goodman of Mt. Vernon will remain the Assistant Majority Leader.
The Senate Democrats picked Victor Callahan of Independence as Minority Floor Leader, and Rita Days of St. Louis as the Assistant Minority Floor Leader. Callahan is replacing Maida Coleman of St. Louis, who declined not to run for the position this year, and Days will replace Chuck Graham of Columbia, who lost his seat to Republican Kurt Schaefer on Election Day.
Both parties in the House kept most of their leaders. For the Democrats, Paul LaVota of Independence and J.C. Kuessner will return as the Minority Floor Leader and the Assistant Minority Floor Leader, respectively, and the Republicans retained Steven Tilley of Perryville as Majority Floor Leader and Tom Self as Assistant Majority Floor Leader.