Statement from Gov. Nixon on Senate confirmation of three of his appointments-Courtesy of the Office of Missouri Governor.

Jefferson City, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon today praised the Missouri Senate for confirming three of his appointments. The Senate today confirmed Kelvin L. Simmons as Commissioner of Administration, Karen King Mitchell as Director of the Department of Revenue, and Stephen L. Danner as Adjutant General of the Missouri National Guard.

“I applaud the Senate for moving forward quickly on these appointments,” Gov. Nixon said. “These are three highly capable individuals who are assuming important posts in leading Missouri through the challenges we face. They will serve the people of Missouri well.”

•Kelvin Simmons is a former director of the Department of Economic Development and a former chairman of the Missouri Public Service Commission. He most recently founded and operated a consulting firm in Kansas City. As the state’s main service and control agency, the Office of Administration coordinates the central management functions of state government.

•Karen King Mitchell formerly was Chief Deputy Attorney General for the Missouri Attorney General for 10 years, and had been State Solicitor and Chief Counsel for the Governmental Affairs Division for the Attorney General prior to that. The Missouri Department of Revenue is the central collection agency for all state revenue.

•Stephen L. Danner, who has served in the U.S. military for more than 30 years, served as Command Judge Advocate in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is a former Assistant Adjutant General, Chief of Staff to the Lieutenant Governor, and legal counsel to the Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives. As Adjutant General, Danner will hold the rank of Brigadier General and will oversee the operations of the Army and Air National Guard units assigned to the state by the federal government. Source: Office of Missouri Governor,January 22, 2009.

Admirers of Commissioner Kelvin Simmons.