While speaking about bipartisan efforts to boost the state and local economy at a luncheon Friday in St. Charles County, Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon and Republican County Executive Steve Ehlmann recalled an across-party-lines effort they took part in two decades ago in Jefferson City.

Nixon

“I got to know the governor on the basketball court,” Ehlmann said in introducing Nixon at the event for local business people. ”I found the governor was a great teammate. If you were open, he’d pass the ball to you.”

Ehlmann, who was a state representative at the time, and Nixon, then the Missouri attorney general, were a group of hoops-savvy elected officials who played on a team called the Capitol Domes.

Nixon in response said “as we got older, our games got worse but the stories about our games got better. Our time has come and gone.”

Ehlmann

More seriously, Ehlmann thanked Nixon for endorsing Ehlmann’s request for an additional $100 million in federal stimulus money to complete the Page Avenue extension project and for freeing up $800,000 more in state aid for St. Louis area leaders’ efforts to attract Chinese air cargo flights. Ehlmann is on a commission promoting the cargo idea.

Nixon in his talk recounted his efforts to balance the state budget despite revenue downturns during his year as governor and his administration’s efforts to rebuild the economy - such as tailoring workforce education programs in different locales to specific needs.

He said while Democrats and Republicans will continue to disagree on various issues, they need to work together to deal with economic challenges.

“In tough times, Missourians come together,” said Nixon, who has to get his proposals through a Republican-run Legislature. ”It’s not about whether you ride an elephant or donkey to work.”

More than 200 people attended the event, a joint gathering of members of chambers of commerce from across the county, at Old Hickory Golf Club in Cottleville.