Lack of commissioners leaves Missouri Ethics Commission unable to decide cases

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) -

A panel tasked with hearing and deciding on state campaign and lobbyists' issues does not have enough people to decide on cases before it.

The Missouri Ethics Commission has two of its six seats currently filled, leaving it two people short to decide on future issues. The commission on Tuesday had to delay a decision on a complaint filed against Columbia mayoral candidate Randy Minchew, citing the lack of commissioners.

The MEC letter from director Elizabeth Ziegler said the commission received a complaint against Minchew on March 15. State law requires the commission to act within 15 days of receiving a complaint against a candidate for the municipal election. However, the terms of other commissioners ended on March 16, leaving the commission with just two active members - chair Helene Frischer and vice-chair Robert Cook.

"In this instance, there were not four Commissioners able to consider this complaint," Ziegler wrote. "Therefore, the Commission could take no action on this complaint at this time."

It's not clear what the complaint against Minchew entailed. Ziegler said the commission has not had to delay any other decisions yet due to a lack of quorum.

The governor appoints commissioners to the MEC, which state senators approve. Kelli Jones, spokeswoman for Gov. Mike Parson, said that Parson plans to appoint two people to the commission in the next two weeks.