Governor appoints two to Ethics Commission

Governor Matt Blunt appointed two new members to the Missouri Ethics Commission Friday. The press release is reprinted below:

JEFFERSON CITY-Gov. Matt Blunt yesterday nominated two individuals to serve on the Missouri Ethics Commission. Blunt recommended Brad Mitchell a Democrat from the 9th Congressional District and John King a Republican from the 3rd Congressional District.
Mitchell, 35, is currently employed as the vice president of the Bank of Washington in Washington, MO. Mitchell is a graduate of Westminster University. He is president/chairman of Immanuel Lutheran Church, president of the Washington Lions Club and coaches little league baseball and works as a high school basketball referee.
King, 69, is an attorney at the law firm of Blumfeld, Kaplan and Sandweiss in St. Louis. His practice is focused in the areas of land use zoning and planning with special emphasis in the fields of residential and commercial development and communication law. King serves on the Board of Police Commissioners for the City of Shrewsbury and is Chairman of the Board of Christian Brothers High School. He earned his bachelor's degree from St.Benedict's College and his law degree from St. Louis University.
"Brad Mitchell and John King will make tremendous additions to the Missouri Ethics Commission," Blunt said. "Both bring exceptional, professional and educational backgrounds to these important positions and a passion for their local communities as evidenced by their involvement in civic groups and activities. I am pleased they are willing to serve our state in this capacity."
If confirmed by the Senate, Mitchell and King will fill two of the three current vacancies on the six-member ethics commission giving them the quorum they need to fulfill their statutory duties.
Unlike other state boards and commissions, state law prescribes a complex process for filling vacancies on the state ethics commission. Major political party congressional organizations must be consulted and given time to submit names of individuals they would like to serve on the commission.In the absence of those recommendations the governor may nominate individuals based on the vacancies that exist with Missouri's nine congressional districts. Blunt's office sent two letters, the second via certified mail, to odd numbered congressional districts as prescribed by state law. Most of the party congressional committees did not properly comply with provisions governing the process. The law requires nominees to submit financial disclosure statements and four-year histories of campaign contributions in order to be eligible for consideration. Upon receipt of the required filings, the Governor's Office will make an appointment to fill the final vacancy on the commission. The ethics commission receives and reviews complaints alleging violations of the conflict of interest and lobbying statutes and the campaign finance disclosure statute. They also review and audit campaign finance disclosure reports and provide information and assistance to lobbyists, elected and appointed officials and the general public.