Kehoe taps Springfieldians for state posts

Gov. Mike Kehoe has selected two Springfieldians for state posts.

Ken McClure and Dr. Tom Prater have been appointed to the Missouri Ethics Commission and Missouri School Funding Modernization Task Force, respectively, according to a news release.

McClure, who led the city of Springfield as mayor for eight years before his retirement this spring, held jobs in former Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt’s administration, City Utilities of Springfield and Missouri State University. His state work included serving as a member and chair of the Missouri Public Service Commission. 

The MEC has six seats – two of which are currently vacant – and members serve four-year terms, according to the state’s website. The MEC oversees lobbyist registration and the reporting of lobbyist expenditures, campaign finance reporting and personal financial disclosure statements, and it has the authority to conduct audits and investigations and level penalties for violations.

The appointments of McClure and Jim Martin, of Perryville, to serve on the MEC were announced by Kehoe on July 11, three days after the release of a report by the progressive advocacy organization Progress MO that was critical of the commission. The report, titled "How Missouri’s Ethics Commission is Broken by Design," indicates that a lack of a quorum at the MEC led to no action being taken on 50 complaints in the last two years. 

Boards.Mo.Gov lists an MEC term expiring March 15, 2026, for McClure. 

Prater's selection to join the Missouri School Funding Modernization Task Force marks his second appointment this year by Kehoe. This spring, Kehoe pulled his nomination for Prater to serve on the Missouri State Board of Education after appointing him a week prior, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting. Prater also had been appointed in 2024 to the board by former Gov. Mike Parson but was never confirmed. 

Prater, a physician and partner at Mattax Neu Prater Eye Center, is also a past member of Springfield City Council and the Springfield Public Schools Board of Education, according to the release.

Kehoe created the Missouri School Funding Modernization Task Force through a January executive order. In May, Kehoe announced the names of its 16 members, including James "Jim" Meats, of Springfield, who is vice president of sales and marketing at Loren Cook Co.

The task force will review and recommend changes to the state's K-12 school funding model, with a final report due to Kehoe by Dec. 1, 2026.

Gabby Picard, communications director for Kehoe's office, said via email that McClure's confirmation process would start in January during the next legislative session and that Prater's nomination for the task force does not require Senate confirmation.