File photo / Missouri Governor s Office
Gov. Mike Parson, seen in this October 2020 photo, is ordering a shake-up on the University of Missouri Board of Curators.
Steelman had previously raised objections about an adviser to Gov. Mike Parson using his connections to the university to seek business for other lobbying clients.
In a letter dated April 14, Parson wrote to Steelman that an orderly process for replacing curators in expired terms “is critical at this juncture in order to provide predictability and clarity to the University of Missouri System…”
Steelman, a Republican from Rolla, was appointed to the board in 2014 by Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon. His term expired on Jan. 1, 2019, but Parson, a Republican, refrained from naming a replacement until last month, when he nominated Keith Holloway of Cape Girardeau.
Governor demands resignation of David Steelman from University of Missouri curators
Rudi Keller
Missouri Independent
In a letter dated April 14, Parson wrote to Steelman that an orderly process for replacing curators in expired terms “is critical at this juncture in order to provide predictability and clarity to the University of Missouri System…”
Steelman, a Republican from Rolla, was appointed to the board in 2014 by Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon. His term expired on Jan. 1, 2019, but Parson, a Republican, refrained from naming a replacement until last month, when he nominated Keith Holloway of Cape Girardeau.
Holloway’s nomination and Parson’s letter came after Steelman raised objections about a close adviser to the governor who lobbies for the UM system using his connections to the university to seek business for other clients.
Parson cut deal with Democrats to pave Graves’ path to University of Missouri curators
By Rudi Keller
Republican Gov. Mike Parson cut a deal this week with Senate Democrats to break a filibuster over the nomination of former Republican Party Chairman Todd Graves to the University of Missouri Board of Curators.
Democrats were promised a chance to screen potential nominees so at least one of two St. Louis-area seats will be given to a graduate of the university’s Kansas City campus, said Sen. Greg Razer, D-Kansas City.
But the governor refused a deal with Graves’ Republican opponents that would have extended the time curator David Steelman of Rolla remained on the board, sources told The Independent on Thursday.
Todd Graves approved for University of Missouri curators despite bipartisan filibuster
By Rudi Keller
A bipartisan coalition of state Senators was unable to stop politically connected Kansas City attorney Todd Graves from winning a seat on the University of Missouri Board of Curators.
After a two-round filibuster three hours last week and eight more hours ending around 1 a.m. Wednesday the Senate voted 19-13 to give the former state Republican Party chairman a six-year term on the board.
Only one Democrat, Sen. Brian Williams of Ferguson, joined with Republicans to support Graves. Four Republicans Sens. Bill Eigel of Weldon Spring, Denny Hoskins of Warrensburg, Mike Moon of Ash Grove and Paul Wieland of Imperial voted against Graves along with nine Democrats.