Politically Speaking is shifting gears this summer. With the legislature out of session, and the August primary on the horizon, we've decided to interview some of the state鈥檚 most prominent political consultants who play key roles behind the scenes.
This week, 漏 2024 外网天堂 reporters Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies welcomed St. Louis lawyer Jane Dueker to the show.
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While Dueker may not be a household name, she worked in the Missouri attorney general鈥檚 office (alongside then-staff colleague Chris Koster) and later was chief of staff for then-Gov. Bob Holden. The St. Louis native served during a tumultuous time in Democratic politics -- when Republicans had taken over both chambers of the Missouri General Assembly and Holden was under political siege.
Dueker eventually returned to the private sector after Holden left office, joining the law firm now known as Stinson Leonard Street. She has been involved in high-profile legal cases, including lawsuits against St. Louis County鈥檚 trash program and a proposed St. Louis ballot initiative aimed at Peabody Energy.
On the show, Dueker said:
- Her first public service job was in then-Attorney General Bill Webster鈥檚 office. The Republican officeholder eventually went to prison after he lost to Democrat Mel Carnahan in the 1992 gubernatorial contest.
- She faced an 鈥渦nbelievably challenging鈥� experience being chief of staff when Republicans completed their takeover of the Missouri General Assembly. Despite some very public battles, Dueker emphasized that Holden and the GOP majorities were able to accomplish some important initiatives.
- Holden鈥檚 decision to place a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage on the August ballot severely complicated his re-election chances. Holden went on to lose to then-Auditor Claire McCaskill in the Democratic primary.
- Her experience in the private sector and government gave her plenty of insight in building her 鈥済overnmental solutions鈥� practice at Stinson Leonard Street. 鈥淭he beauty of all the experience that I鈥檝e had has helped me because it gives me a lot of tools to solve the problem,鈥� she said.
- After initially supporting him, she grew more and more disenchanted with St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley鈥檚 administration. Dueker is now supporting Councilman Steve Stenger鈥檚 bid to upend Dooley in the Aug. 5 Democratic primary.
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