Tilley appoints Jetton to transportation panel

House Speaker Steve Tilley has appointed Rod Jetton to help lead a citizens transportation committee, a selection that marks the former Missouri lawmaker's first attempt at public service since he pleaded guilty to an assault charge last May.

Jetton, who used to have Tilley's job in the Missouri House, will co-chair the Blue Ribbon Citizens Committee on Missouri Transportation Needs, which will host a series of public meetings across the state starting Monday in St. Louis, and including a Cape Girardeau stop June 29.

Jetton, who served the House district based in Marble Hill, Mo., said he had second thoughts about accepting Tilley's offer because he enjoys his private life. He has relocated to Branson, Mo., and works for a civil engineering company based in Poplar Bluff, Mo., where he helps with sales, marketing and public relations. Jetton, who has remarried, also recently launched a campaign analysis service that handicaps statewide political races and campaigns.

But that wasn't the only thing that gave the former Missouri House speaker pause.

"Obviously I made some mistakes and politics has its -- you know, there's some conflict that comes to you," Jetton said. "But I added to it with my own mistakes in my personal life. So I hesitated to get back out there and do anything public."

Jetton pleaded guilty last May to a reduced charge of misdemeanor assault for striking a woman in the face and choking her during sex at her Sikeston, Mo., home in November 2009. The victim had previously testified in court that after drinking a glass of wine she started to drift in and out of consciousness. Jetton was sentenced to probation on the charge and was ordered to pay $950 in restitution to the victim.

Tilley did not return a phone call seeking comment on his selection.

But Jetton said the issue of transportation is important to him and he thinks the committee -- to be co-chaired by Sen. Ryan McKenna, D-Crystal City -- can do some good. The committee is charged with gathering input from residents in each of the Missouri Department of Transportation's seven regions. Cape Girardeau's meeting will be at 10 a.m. June 29 at the Show Me Center.

The meetings will focus on finding out what residents see as transportation needs to improve safety. Also, Jetton said, because transportation is crucial to creating a good economic climate, he'd like to hear options from the public about ways revenue can be found to pay for transportation improvements.

"What are the needs and what do you think would be the best way to pay for this?" Jetton said.

When Jetton was elected in 2000, he was critical of the transportation department, saying he felt like it had broken the promises of a 15-year plan. He walked to Jefferson City that first summer to highlight the problems with the state's transportation system. In the years since, new highway commissioners have been appointed that helped the department evolve into one that has addressed problems and listened to residents, he said.

The 21-member committee also includes Ric Neubert, president and CEO of Delta Cos. Neubert agrees that transportation issues are going to become more critical as the Missouri Department of Transportation is seeing drastic cuts in funding.

"Missouri is falling behind in our ability to maintain our infrastructure," Neubert said. "I'm interested in doing anything to move the cause ahead to finding solutions."

The biggest need, Neubert said, continues to be funding. The department is going from a budget of $1.2 billion to $600 million, which Neubert said will make it difficult to find matching funds for federal dollars. New revenue streams need to be found, he said, to properly take care of the state's roads, ports and railways.

"How much do they value safe, quick transportation?" he said. "You have to put your money where your mouth is at some point."

After gathering all the information, Jetton said, the committee's goal is to compile a report and present it to Tilley sometime later this year.

smoyers@semissourian.com

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