UPDATED: New Mo. tourism director will supplement her salary
UPDATED: Gov. Jay Nixon defended the tourism chief’s dual roles. “We think she’ll be able to do both jobs well and taxpayers will get their money’s worth,” said Jack Cardetti, Nixon’s spokesman. He said the time frame for her to wear two hats was “to be determined.”
Tourism Commission Chairwoman Marci Bennett said she had just learned of the arrangement and was trying to get more information, such as how long Danner planned to fill both roles. “I know the commission would want to know how long indefinitely is, or would want to set that,” Bennett said.
JEFFERSON CITY — When the Missouri Tourism Commission picked Katie Steele Danner as the new tourism director this week, commissioners set her salary at $75,000 a year.
That would have been a pay cut. She has been making $110,000 as deputy director and interim director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development.
As it turns out, the department has decided to temporarily keep Danner as a deputy director and will pay the difference between her $75,000 tourism salary and her former salary. Thus, she will still make $110,000.
Economic Development Department spokesman Keener Tippin said Danner will help out new Director David Kerr “for an indefinite period, to ensure a smooth transition.”
Things didn’t go so smoothly when Lt. Gov.Peter Kinder learned of the arrangement.
Told of Danner’s dual role, Kinder was “astonished,” according to Gary McElyea, Kinder’s spokesman.
“It’s a willful refusal by her and the (Nixon) administration to disclose facts to the commission regarding her salary, as well as the amount of time she would be spending” working for the department, Kinder said, according to McElyea.
Kinder, a tourism commissioner, abstained on the otherwise-unanimous vote to hire Danner. He also proposed the $75,000 salary, noting it was several thousand more than former tourism Director Blaine Luetkemeyer made.
I was astonished when I learned Peter Kinder still was allowed anywhere near Twitter, after the excitable boy spread hysteria this week on the supposed hostage event in the capital.
Tweeter Kinder needs to breath into a brown paper sack and calm down.
Whatever her salary she would do more for St. Louis, for our
emopty hotels, motels, and restaurants in the wintertime..
for the failing Renaissance Grand and for the failing Union Station
by coming in here and screaming REOPEN KIEL OPERA HOUSE YOU IDIOTS.
Blaine Luetkemeyer was overpaid at $75k. He had no practical experience other than serving in elected office and being a small-town banker, waiting for his next campaign.
Katie Steele Danner is underpaid at $75k, given her much deeper experience than Luetkemeyer, including elected office, serving as a multi-state executive with a major government agency and more recently on the front lines of promoting Branson, Missouri’s national and international tourism destination. The extra pay will be short term during the new DED director’s transition. Not much of an issue, really.
But it doesn’t take much to get drama out of Peter.
p.s. LOVE the Cape Club Complex. It’s the gold at the end of the rainbow in Southeast Missouri.
What!!! Take care of your friends - give her the money.
Peter is just having a tantrum because taxpayers are tired of paying for his adventures with muscular French bicyclists and imported bosomy race hostesses imported from Georgia. The Tourism Commission eliminated money for Peter’s Party Time and he is peevish.
Virginia or anyone else who understands this,
Why would Mr. Kinder make a motion to pay $75,000? Was he thinking she would take a pay cut?
Why would Mr. Nixon allow her to do both jobs? Is it only because of the motion Mr. Kinder made?
It looks like both of these jokers are playing games. I have not been impressed with Mr. Nixon. It seemed like in the ecoli matter he had a problem with misinformation.
Pardon my cynicisn but I don’t think either of them looks above board.
> imported bosomy race hostesses imported from Georgia
Huh?
Nick Kasoff, seems you need to catch up on the news. Though I can understand your surprise at Peter Kinder bringing in women.
http://www.firedupmissouri.com/content/new-outfits-nordstrom-course
I’d rather pay a pro like Katie Steele Danner the extra 40 grand than blow tourism bucks on frivolities like Peter Kinder’s bunch did with its French bike race. Heck, Peter and Pals dropped $37,812 on meals, booze and room service alone at the Kansas City Airport Hilton. They outdid themselves for single-night spending in St. Louis, leaving $19,999.13 at J. Buck’s on Clark Street. As Peter Kinder’s campaign slogan goes, ‘Every Dollar Counts!’
http://www.firedupmissouri.com/content/riding-style-tour-organizers-spent-tens-thousands-spent-luxurious-meals-alcohol-room-service
Typical of Peter Kinder’s career hypocrisy.
“proposed the $75,000 salary, noting it was several thousand more than former tourism Director Blaine Luetkemeyer made.”
virginia, did you mean opposed, not proposed? makes more sens since he abstained on vote; best,