Missouri Senate leader lands plum job, will leave post early

By St. Louis Post-Dispatch via My Courier-Tribune

JEFFERSON CITY — The leader of the Democratic minority in the Missouri Senate is stepping down early for a $150,000 per year post.

Sen. John Rizzo of Independence said in a letter to Gov. Mike Parson Wednesday that he will end his tenure on Sunday to become executive director of the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority.

The Kansas City organization oversees lease agreements with the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, both of which are being wooed to leave for Kansas via a recently approved package of tax incentives.

He told Parson is was an honor to serve in the Legislature.

“Together, we have made record investments in our kids and classrooms, expanded healthcare to working families, and protected every Missouri citizen’s right to petition their government by safeguarding the integrity of our direct-democrat initiative petition,” Rizzo wrote.

Rizzo, 43, has been a member of the House and Senate for 14 years. As Senate minority leader, Rizzo orchestrated an end-of-session filibuster in May, successfully blocking Republicans from placing a question on the November ballot seeking to make it harder to amend the state constitution.

“I believe our achievements can be a roadmap for future leaders, so long as they continue to place ‘the good of the people’ before party and partisanship,” Rizzo added.

In addition to navigating the question of keeping the Chiefs and Royals from leaving the state, Rizzo will be head of an authority playing a role in hosting FIFA World Cup soccer matches at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in 2026.

Estimates say visitors from around the world could have an economic impact of up to $620 million.

With Rizzo gone, Senate Democrats are down to eight members in the 34-seat chamber. That diminished number could play a role in whether the Legislature can take up any initiative in a special session this year designed to stop the teams from leaving.

In April, voters in Jackson County rejected a tax extension that would have helped fund renovations at Arrowhead and a new Royals stadium in downtown Kansas City.

Parson “will do what he can to keep the Chiefs in Missouri,” the governor’s office has previously said.

A spokesman for Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, who is seeking to replace Parson in January, earlier told the Missouri Independent that he “will not watch passively as other states poach our businesses.”

Two of Kehoe’s GOP rivals — Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and state Sen. Bill Eigel — have poured cold water on the idea of taxpayer support for sports teams.

In a Facebook post, Senate Majority Leader Cindy O’Laughlin, R-Shelbina, has said she doesn’t know what Missouri might do in response to Kansas’ overture.

“Obviously both teams (the Chiefs and Royals) are owned by very wealthy families and I suspect many people feel they can finance their own change of stadiums if they feel they need to move,” said O’Laughlin, who is poised to become Senate president next year.