Governor's office emptying following Holden's loss

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Realizing their boss is a lame duck, some of Gov. Bob Holden's employees are leaving the pond.

About one-quarter of the people in the governor's office have left or submitted their resignations in search of more dependable paychecks since Holden lost re-election, according to interviews and payroll records supplied Friday to The Associated Press.

Holden plans to stay until his term ends Jan. 10.

But some staff left after Holden's Aug. 3 primary loss to fellow Democrat Claire McCaskill. Others waited until after the Nov. 2 election, when Republican Matt Blunt's victory ensured an end to 12 years of Democratic control of the governor's office.

Since then, the mood in the governor's office has changed.

"I think people are somewhat nostalgic -- recognizing they've been part of the history of the state of Missouri, but looking forward to new challenges," said Holden spokeswoman Mary Still, among those unsure of whether she will stay until the end of Holden's term.

It's not unusual for staff to change after an election, even when the incumbent wins. For example, many of President Bush's Cabinet members are exiting government before his second term. But they are being replaced.

In Holden's case, the departing staff aren't being replaced. And rather than leaving government altogether, some are transferring to other government positions. For example, secretaries who could lose their jobs if Blunt performs a makeover of the governor's office can find job security by taking positions elsewhere that are covered by the state's merit-based employment system.

Of the 41 employees on the governor's office payroll as of July 1, seven already are gone, two others have turned in resignations and two more are taking leave.

The governor's payroll includes employees who cook and clean at the mansion, as well as interns. When the roster is narrowed to regular office employees, the departure percentage is higher.

The first to leave following Holden's primary loss was policy analyst Jack Cardetti, who took a job as spokesman for the Missouri Democratic Party. Cardetti telephoned Holden while he was vacationing with his family at a Florida beach to make sure the move was OK, especially considering the party was being run by McCaskill supporters. An understanding Holden gave his approval, Cardetti said.

The highest ranking member of Holden's team to leave is senior policy adviser Patrick Lynn, who is resigning effective Dec. 1. Lynn said he has no job lined up but is considering becoming a lobbyist.

State law would prohibit Lynn from lobbying the governor's office -- or any agencies for which he served as the governor's liaison -- until a year after his departure. But Lynn still could lobby the legislature, starting immediately.

Holden's scheduling director, Angela Elsbury, took unpaid leave to work on Holden's primary campaign, then helped the broader Democratic campaign efforts. She hasn't returned to the office.

But "the demand for the governor's time is not as significant" since he lost re-election, Still said, "so there's a little reduction there" in the required work.

Plenty of applications

While Holden's staff members look for new jobs, applications are rolling into Blunt's gubernatorial transition office. As of Thursday, Blunt already had received 667 job applications for his administration, said spokesman Spence Jackson.

Holden also received a lot of job applications during his gubernatorial transition. But he retained some of the previous administration's department directors and governor's office employees, because he was succeeding a Democratic governor.

Now, Holden also is looking for a job. He said Friday that he hopes to know within the next month what he will be doing after he leaves the governor's office.