State is quiet on officials’ firings

The director and deputy director of a major division of the Department of Public Safety were fired last week, and no one wants to talk about it.

Keith Fuller, director of the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control, and his deputy, Lori Baskins, lost their jobs April 19. Department spokeswoman Terri Durdaller would not comment on the details of their dismissal, saying the Missouri Open Meetings and Records Law would not allow it.

“By law, Mr. Fuller could disclose (his record) to the public, but we can’t open a closed personnel record,” Durdaller said.

Both Fuller and Baskins also refused comment. Baskins, reached at her Independence home, hung up during an attempted telephone interview. Fuller, however, said he would discuss the matter after he finds another job.

The Missourian tried repeatedly to contact Mark James, the director of the Department of Public Safety, who requested an internal investigation that led to the firings. Repeated phone calls to James’ office failed to get beyond Durdaller, and multiple attempts to talk to James in person at his office on Tuesday failed. A reporter was told numerous times over the course of three hours that James was in a meeting. At about 4 p.m., however, James was said to be gone for the day.

Gov. Matt Blunt made the final decision to fire Fuller, but his office also funneled all inquiries to Durdaller.

Fuller was paid $74,406 and Baskins $66,216, according to the 2003-04 Missouri Blue Book. Fuller is a former Columbia resident and a graduate of the MU School of Law. He was originally appointed to his division post by Gov. Bob Holden.

The governor appoints the director of the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control. Durdaller said that Steve Schimmens is serving as interim supervisor of the department and that the next supervisor will be appointed by the governor “in the near future.”