Jay Nixon to tap Kansan for top Missouri jobs post
UPDATED: Nixon just made the announcement. He said Kerr, 56, will start work Nov. 9. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Missouri Senate.
Kerr
JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri’s new economic development director will be David Kerr, secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce, sources said this morning.
Gov. Jay Nixon plans to make the announcement at noon at a luncheon of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce. Kerr will replace Linda Martinez, who resigned recently in a dispute with Nixon.
Kerr, a former AT&T official, has strong St. Louis ties. According to his bio, he joined AT&T in Topeka in 1979, then came to St. Louis in 1981 and led marketing, account and finance teams until moving to Dallas in 1997.
Kerr also knows the Kansas City area. A native of western Kansas, he got his bachelor’s degree from Avila University in Kansas City. He took over at the Kansas commerce department after serving as president of AT&T Kansas from 2003 to 2007.
Thanks to our crack business writer, Tim Logan, who got the initial tip on this.
Excellent choice by the Governor. And kudos to The Source (A Conservative Blog) for posting the announcement 4 hours ago!
Funny how he can hire someone when he is laying off so many in st. louis.
Maybe he could start with the st. louis office, they have few employees in child support but 15 superviser and 10 office managers in one office.
And people wonder why they can’t get any help
Maria: So you believe a Governor should not have departnent heads over established state agencies? Thanks for the chuckle. lol
I’m not necessarily against this appointment, but I do have to question why an AT&T executive would leave that, presumably, generous private salary to take on a public job with, again presumably, a much lower salary. Things like this tend to raise my eyebrows because it doesn’t make much sense. I’m hoping we don’t have the next big corruption candidate smiling in this news release right now.
XCELENT CHOICE, EXPERIENCE IS COMING TO THAT OFFICE WHEN WE NEED JOB’S THIS MAN LIVES UP TO THE OLD SAYING “lEAD FOLLOW OR GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY” HE WILL LEAD!!!
I’ve been critical of Nixon in the past so it is only fair that I give credit where credit is due. This is an excellent appointment and will benefit the economic development efforts in Missouri. The appointment of an attorney (Martinez) to the post was a mistake, as the leader of the department needs not only administrative experience, but also understand the needs of businesses and industry. That’s why Steinhoff was a good director…he understood business, not just the legalities of the tax credit process like Martinez did. This job is more about being the top “salesman” of the state to businesses here and looking to locate here.
Go Avila! Best of luck, Mr. Kerr!