Last week, I wrote about Adophus Busch IV, heir to the Budweiser brewery fortune, threatening political retribution on any County Council member that supported the expansion of Smartt Field. The Council is currently considering a proposal, backed by Ortwerth and co-sponsored by Councilmen Foust, Morrison and Schnur.
Adolphus made his threat on public access cable T.V. at the last County Council meeting. Four days later at the St. Peters Board meeting, again on T.V., Adolphus made good on his threat.
At that meeting, St. Peters Mayor Shawn Brown called for the removal of Jeff Morrison from his day job as City Prosecutor for St. Peters. Interestingly, Shawn appointed Morrison to the position in March, a mere four months ago. And the Board of Aldermen unanimously approved the appointment.
Shawn called for Morrison’s removal, not because Shawn admits that he did anything wrong in making the appointment, but because he had been getting calls from “people” upset about the appointment.
Remember, last year Shawn beat the twenty-year incumbent St. Peters mayor, Tom Brown. And Adolphus, who hated Tom over St. Peters’ proposed 370 Lakeside development, spent tens of thousands of dollars of his virtually limitless fortune on Shawn’s race.
So I can guess who made the call to Shawn that got him to flip his position on the appointment. His old benefactor Adolphus called in a favor. Well, more probable given Adolphus’ threatening manner, he simply reminded Shawn that he had bought the position of St. Peters mayor—fair and square. Isn’t it nice the things one can buy with old family money?
But at the meeting, Alderman David Hayes provided another explanation for Shawn’s sudden flip on the appointment. Apparently Morrison had sent a letter to County Prosecutor Jack Banas telling him that Alderman Terry Hawkins spoke with a builder who says he was extorted by Mayor Shawn.
Hayes then brought up a historical parallel that Republicans generally try to forget—Richard Nixon. When faced with an independent prosecutor asking for the White House tapes, President Nixon tried to fire the prosecutor. Back in October of 1973, the press called it the “Saturday Night Massacre” because three prosecutors ended up losing their jobs. Nixon was never actually directly tied to the Watergate break-ins. What he did wrong was the cover up.
I grant you that the analogy between Nixon and Shawn may have merit. It certainly is colorful. But all the Republicans need to still remember that though we have chased the Democrats into a hole in this county, all this in-fighting may lead the Yellow Dogs to rise again.
So excuse me dear readers while I pass along a message to Alderman Hayes, a noted devoted Republican, in our Republican code: lease-pay, ix-nay the tuff-say on ixon-nay.
Now, back to the issue of Shawn, Hayes is questioning whether Shawn is motivated by Morrison’s letter rather than Adolphus’ money. It is an interesting question, but neither reason justifies removing a prosecutor. In fact, I wonder if trying to remove a prosecutor for such blatantly political reasons might not be enough for the Board to impeach Shawn.
Before we have impeachment hearings, however, at the next St. Peters Board meeting, the Board must vote on Morrison’s removal. The unanswered question is how many of the Aldermen, who just approved Morrison’s appointment, can Adolphus flip with his millions.
The coming meeting may prove to be a very lucrative time to be a St. Peters Alderman with beer barrels of cash up for grab. And remember, if Adolphus can’t buy your vote, he may just get you fired.
ttt
.
