Kennett, Malden license offices not up for bid... yet

Although Gov. Jay Nixon's bidding process for revenue offices is in full swing, affecting offices as close as Dexter, Mo., it has yet to involve the offices at Kennett and Malden, Mo.

As one of his first acts as governor, Nixon implemented the bidding process to increase the efficiency and accountability of revenue offices across the state.

"The era of license office patronage ends today," the governor said at the time of implementation.

The Dexter motor vehicle/license office was one of the six latest offices to go up for bid. Others include Bolivar, Bowling Green, Clinton, Oakville, and Sugar Creek.

The process Nixon is following was originally started by former Governor Matt Blunt, following complaints about the political nature of the selections and the use of subcontractors to operate the offices.

Patti Riggs, manager of the Kennett License Office, said that although the some local offices have been put up for bids, the Kennett office has not.

"They are actually putting six offices per week up and they are announced on Monday or Tuesday of each week," Riggs said. "It seems to be a random process and Kennett has not come up yet. It's just a random system and when they come up, you have a five week period to get your bid in."

Riggs also said the offices get no advance warning.

June Beck, manager of the office at Malden, said she hasn't heard anything about when they will come up for bidding.

"When a person walks into a local license office, what he or she cares most about is how quickly and accurately they can get their driver's license or license plates renewed," Nixon said. "Customers don't care about the political affiliation of the person running the office, and neither should the state.

"The comprehensive bidding process implemented by my administration lets any person or group bid for the right to manage an office, and the customers will be the ultimate winners."