CHAPTER 2 EXECUTIVE BRANCH Trout fishing, Montauk State Park, 1980 Photo courtesy of Missouri State Archives OFFICE OF GOVERNOR 35 Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon Governor Elected November 4, 2008 Term expires January 2017 JAY NIXON (Democrat) is serving his second home and enacting a dedicated source of funding term as governor of Missouri. After garnering the for veterans homes. A member of the President’s highest margin of victory for a non-incumbent Council of Governors, Governor Nixon has made governor in 44 years when first elected in 2008, multiple trips to Iraq and Afghanistan to visit with Nixon was re-elected by Missourians as their 55th troops and be briefed on military operations. governor in 2012 to continue creating jobs and Nixon has visited each of Missouri’s 87 state moving the state forward. parks and historic sites to help promote them as As governor, Jay Nixon has worked to make recreational destinations, with a goal of reaching government more efficient, effective and respon- 20 million visitors by 2020. He also began the sive to the needs of Missouri families. He is com- State Parks Youth Corps to beautify the parks and mitted to maintaining fiscal discipline, creating put young people to work. Governor Nixon is an jobs, growing the economy and investing in pub- avid hunter and fisherman, and after Missouri lic education. was named the “Best Trails State” in America in As he did in the state Senate and during four 2013, both he and the first lady led the 100 Mis- terms as attorney general, Governor Nixon is souri Miles Challenge to encourage Missourians reaching across the aisle to put Missouri families to spend more time getting active outdoors. first. He successfully worked with the legislature Prior to becoming governor, Jay Nixon was to pass several jobs initiatives, including a bill elected to a record four terms as Missouri’s attor- credited with saving Missouri’s auto industry and ney general. His settlements with the insurance creating thousands of good manufacturing jobs. industry and hospitals led to the formation of two As a result, Ford, General Motors and automotive of the largest health care foundations in state his- suppliers around the state have invested billions tory. One of Nixon’s most successful programs, of dollars and created thousands of jobs to build Missouri’s popular No-Call List, has become a next-generation vehicles and parts in the Show- model for states across the nation to stop unwant- Me State. ed telemarketing calls. Just as Missouri families have to do at home, A native of De Soto, Nixon was raised in a Governor Nixon has made the tough choices nec- family of public servants. His mother, the late essary to balance the budget every year without Betty Nixon, was a teacher and served as presi- raising taxes. The governor’s commitment to fis- dent of the local school board. His father, Jerry cal discipline has helped protect Missouri’s AAA Nixon, was mayor of De Soto and a municipal credit rating, while enabling smart investments judge. to improve education, expand access to mental Growing up in a home with these strong ex- health services and help communities struck by amples, Nixon learned at a young age that faith disasters rebuild and recover. and family come first—and giving back to the Governor Nixon has made a strong public ed- community comes next. That philosophy has ucation system one of his chief priorities. Under guided him throughout his career in public ser- his leadership, Missouri’s public elementary and vice. secondary schools have received record funding, After earning his undergraduate and law and test scores and graduation rates have gone degrees from the University of Missouri, Nixon up. Similarly, even as other states were raising returned to De Soto to practice as an attorney. tuition by double digits, Missouri has led the na- In 1986, he was elected to the Missouri Senate, tion in holding down tuition increases at public where he would represent the people of Jefferson universities. County for six years. He has been a strong supporter of the Mis- Governor Nixon and his wife, Georganne souri National Guard and Missourians serving in Wheeler Nixon, have two sons, Jeremiah and the military, creating the Show-Me Heroes pro- Willson. They belong to the First United Method- gram to help returning veterans find jobs here at ist Church in Jefferson City. 36 OFFICIAL MANUAL Office of Governor State Capitol Jefferson City 65102 Telephone: (573) 751-3222 / FAX: (573) 751-1588 www.gov.mo.gov CHRIS PIEPER JUDY MURRAY Qualifications Chief of Staff Assistant to the Governor The chief executive officer of the state of Mis- souri must be at least 30 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least 15 years and a resident of Missouri for at least 10 years before being elected governor. The governor is elected to a four-year term during the same year as a presidential election and may seek re-election to a second four-year term. No person may hold the office for more than two terms. Responsibilities The governor appoints the members of all EDWARD R. ARDINI JEFF HARRIS boards and commissions, all department heads Chief Counsel Director of Policy in state government and fills all vacancies in pub- lic offices unless otherwise provided by law. The board members of Missouri’s state universities and colleges are appointed by the governor. The governor also selects the members of the Supreme and Appellate Courts of Missouri from names submitted by the Appellate Judicial Commission. The governor appoints members to certain elec- tion boards, the Kansas City police board and the Board of Probation and Parole. Most appointments require the advice and consent of the Senate. The governor addresses the General Assem- bly on the state of the State and recommends changes or other actions to be taken. A budget JASON ZAMKUS is submitted by the governor to the General As- Director of Legislative Affairs sembly within 30 days after the General Assem- bly convenes. The budget contains the governor’s estimates of available state revenues and an item- propriations bill. Upon signing the appropriations ized plan for proposed expenditures. bill, appended to it is a statement of the items or portions of items to which there are objections All bills passed by both houses of the legisla- and such items or portions will not take effect. ture are submitted to the governor for consider- The governor may control the rate of expenditure ation. The governor must return the legislation to in other areas whenever the actual revenues are the house of its inception within 15 days after re- less than the revenue estimates upon which the ceiving it. The governor may either approve a bill, appropriations were based. making it law, or return it to the legislature with objections. When the legislature is adjourned, the governor has 45 days in which to consider a bill. Additional Duties and Powers The governor may object to one or more items The governor performs many other duties as- or portions of items of an appropriations bill signed by the constitution, statute or custom. For while approving other items or portions of the ap- example, the governor issues writs of election to OFFICE OF GOVERNOR 37 KELSEY THOMPSON A.J. FOX MIKE NIETZEL ANDREA SPILLARS Director of Scheduling Director of Boards and Senior Policy Advisor Senior Policy Advisor Commissions WILLIAM L. MILLER, JR. CHANNING ANSLEY SCOTT HOLSTE SETH BUNDY Senior Policy Advisor & Director of Communications Press Secretary Deputy Press Secretary & Legal Counsel Policy Advisor fill vacancies in either house of the General As- sembly. The governor also has the power to grant reprieves, commutations and pardons, but this does not include the power to parole. In addition to other duties, the governor is a member of a number of boards and commissions, such as the Board of Public Buildings and the State Board of Fund Commissioners. Moreover, the governor is the conservator of peace throughout Missouri and is commander- in-chief of the state’s militia. The militia may be called out to execute laws, suppress threats of danger to the state and prevent and repel invasion. SHARI CHILDS TIFFANY BAYER Mansion Director Assistant to the First Lady Executive Department as Missouri’s first commissioner of education; her The executive department consists of all state elective and appointive employees, except those mother and grandmother were both teachers; and of the legislative and judicial departments. Mrs. Nixon herself has taught in public schools. Mrs. Nixon is an outdoor enthusiast who has Missouri’s First Lady helped lead the Governor’s 100 Missouri Miles Challenge, an initiative launched by the governor Like the governor, First Lady Georganne and the first lady to encourage families to enjoy Wheeler Nixon earned her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Missouri–Co- Missouri’s outdoors as part of an active lifestyle. lumbia. Her support of Governor Nixon’s call for Mrs. Nixon also has actively promoted the state’s strong public education in Missouri comes natu- 85 parks and historic sites as vacation destinations rally: her father, the late Hubert Wheeler, served and as a way to learn more about Missouri. She 38 OFFICIAL MANUAL also gardens, and has planted a vegetable and vival style, the entry consists of an imposing por- herb garden on the mansion grounds. tico with four dignified pink granite columns. A An avid supporter of the arts and literature, the Victorian atmosphere greets visitors as they en- first lady often goes to schools and libraries to read ter the great hall with its 17-foot ceilings, a rare to children as a way of encouraging literacy for free-flowing staircase of solid walnut and one of both children and adults.