This month has not been good to the Missouri Democratic Party. Talibdin “T.D.” El-Amin is only the latest in a line of Ds to plead guilty on public corruption charges. Within the last month, four high-ranking Democrats and associates of Jay Nixon have plead guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Sources around the political scene say this isn’t the end; there are apparently several others ready to go down.

Who do you think is next? From our sources, we will suggest some people who appear to be in trouble, but we encourage you to tell us what you think.

Contestant Number 1: Darin Cline

Cline was St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley’s top lobbyist until his surprise resignation Monday night. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote that county sources say Dooley pressured Cline to resign over fears that he was being investigated, but Dooley denies it. While it has already been announced that Cline owes a massive amount of back taxes (nearly $500,000 according to figures released by the Post-Dispatch), there are rumors that the federal government is looking into him for more than just his poor bookkeeping skills.

Contestant Number 2: St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley

After Cline’s surprise resignation and the breaking story of the decision to hold a closed-door political meeting with various members of St. Louis County government, rumors began to swirl about Dooley as a potential target of an investigation. It is alleged that the planned closed-door meeting is part of Dooley’s attempts to shake down contractors who have county contracts, seeking campaign funds for what is expected to be a difficult campaign by pointing out the potentially fruitful relationships they could build with the county with an investment in the Dooley campaign.

Contestant Number 3: John Temporiti

Former Chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party, Nixon appointee to the Missouri Housing Development Commission, and St. Louis County lobbyist lawyer.

We have been hearing lots of rumors about no-bid contracts that his clients have received and about the contract he set up for himself as he left Dooley’s office a few years back. He now seems to be the shake-down man for Dooley – calling developers demanding campaign cash.

Contestant Number 4: Victor Callahan

It is possible that Victor Callahan is the next to be picked up by the Feds for his rumored involvement in a mysterious campaign mailer from April 2005. The flyer, meant to assist Senator Frank Barnitz, a Democrat, was paid for by a non-existent committee and the unknown person who ordered the print job made the call with a disposable cell phone to avoid tracking.

That’s our list. What do you think?

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