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COLUMBIA, MO - As this session of Congress of Congress nears an end, U.S. Senator Kit Bond today announced key staff restructuring in his personal and political operations. State Director, Jason Van Eaton, and Director for the Western Missouri District, Matt Roney, will move over to the political arm of Bond’s operation.

“Jason and Matt have been essential to my official office operations. They are trusted members of my staff and I look forward to continue working with them on our political efforts in a very important election cycle,” said Bond.

With a number of big races coming up in 2008, Bond wants to ramp up his political operation in-state. In addition to pursuing other private sector opportunities, Jason and Matt will spearhead political operations. This restructuring will happen at the end of session.

Bond noted that for more than a decade each, Van Eaton and Roney have served the people of Missouri as devoted and valuable members of his team and their official service will be missed.

W. Jason Van Eaton was born and raised in Southwest Missouri. Jason has served in numerous capacities for Bond, most recently serving as Bond’s State Director for over 7 years. Jason has also focused his efforts on appropriations projects, transportation policy, infrastructure, education, economic development, as well as several major development projects. On the political front, Jason worked on his first campaign in 1994 when John Ashcroft was running for the U.S. Senate. In 1998, Jason served as a Regional Director for Bond’s reelection. During the 2000 election cycle, he was the Campaign Manager for now U.S. Congressman Todd Akin in his first run for Congress. Again in 2004 he served as Campaign Manager, this time, for Bond’s reelection.

Matthew L. Roney was born and raised in greater Kansas City, Missouri. Matt has served in numerous capacities for Bond, most recently serving as Director for the Western Missouri District for the last 6 years. Duties included managing a district staff, coordinating appropriations requests, and coordinating governmental involvement in key economic development projects. Matt also served as Political Director for Senator Bond’s successful reelection in 2004.

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“Is it that they are just so stupid they think they are above the law and are too smart to get caught?”

A dear friend, who shall now and forever remain nameless, asked me that question yesterday morning after the news about Nathan Cooper broke. This was coming from a loyal Republican, a guy who writes checks and works his ass off so that young “consultants” can mooch off candidates’ payrolls to eat.

Let’s call a spade a spade. There is a group of young people in our party, in this state, who idolize Richard Nixon. They built their careers on his shakedown-and-kickback model. From College Republicans to student governments to graduating (or not graduating, right?) and still interfering in College Republican elections — their only motive is to obtain power. And for what? To perpetuate their own careers.

How sad is that?

This was amusing to me in college, when my friends at their campus’ student newspaper would publicly defecate on these guys by exposing their shadiest maneuvers — from their forging of documents to rigging of elections to recording of private phone conversations. But now those College Republican Gordon Liddy-wannabes are all grown up, and have access to the levers of state government.

Sorry this happened to you first, Nathan. I mean that. You’re a better man now than you were when we used to butt heads a decade ago, and so am I. Remember those days? You were a bright, driven up-and-comer who made all the right moves, and I was a smart-ass kid with a foul mouth and a chip on his shoulder.

And despite all of that, you’ve been the type of guy to leave the past in the past. You came to me, shook my hand, looked me in the eye. And we talked. Not about the silly stuff that dominates Jeff City chatter, but about life and the party and the future of conservatives in Missouri.

And we laughed about how far we had come.

Nathan is probably too loyal to snitch on all the crooks he knows. But I wish he would.

F@#k ‘em all. Hang ‘em high. Our party would be better for it.

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Gregg and Lorie Keller are announcing the arrival of Eleanor Whitney Keller at a healthy 8 lb. 10 oz.

RGK — formerly of the Talent and Bush campaigns and now National Coalitions Director for Mitt Romney — tells us that mom and the baby girl are doing well.

You can reach Gregg at gkeller {at} mittromney {dot} com.

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The St. Louis Business Journal named 88th District state representative candidate Shamed Dogan as a 30 Under 30 honoree for 2007. The following profile appeared in the print edition for the week of July 13-19, 2007.

Shamed Dogan, 28
Higher education coordinator, Regional Business Council

Next year Shamed Dogan may be looking for advice from his old boss, former U.S. Sen. Jim Talent.

Dogan announced in June that he is running next year for the Missouri House seat currently occupied by Rep. Neal St. Onge, R-Ellisville.

Dogan worked in Washington, D.C., from 2000 to 2006, serving three years on Talent’s staff. As Talent’s legislative assistant, he not only helped pass federal highway safety legislation but also helped draft a constitutional amendment that put the line-item veto back on the national agenda.

Upon his return to St. Louis last year, Dogan organized the Missouri Republican Party’s statewide minority and small-business outreach efforts.

Now he works as the higher education coordinator for the Regional Business Council, a consortium of executives from 100 of the region’s largest midcap companies, where he oversees the RBC’s mentoring program.

What has been your biggest accomplishment?

My biggest professional accomplishment was the small but satisfying part I played in Republicans taking back the U.S. Senate in 2002.

What charitable/volunteer activities are you involved in?

I volunteer through both the Urban League Young Professionals and the West County Jaycees.

What’s on your iPod?

Lots and lots of 80’s music and hip-hop, a healthy dose of Stevie Wonder, and a dash of classic rock.

What’s on your summer reading list?

The Missouri Revised Statutes. I wish I was kidding.

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