FUMO's Best and Worst of '08: Highest Risers of the Year

Every year the Missouri political community has its winners and losers.  There are those elected officials, consultants, staffers, media figures and public people who have a rough go of things (hello, Kenny) and then there are the ones for whom the year provided a rise in office, in stature, in power or just in the way in which they are perceived.

In this list (a continuing part of the FUMO Best and Worst of 2008 series) we've done our best to identify who the year's highest risers were.  Who were the Missouri politicos who made great strides forward in 2008?  Here's our choice of ten who joined Governor-elect Jay Nixon on that list, in alphabetical order...­

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Don Calloway - After winning a three-way primary for his St. Louis County House seat, Representative-elect Don Calloway faced no opposition in the general election.  He's quickly become regarded a future legislative star for the House Democratic Caucus, as the young African-American pol is viewed as whip-smart, politically sophisticated and with broad appeal across a vast range of constituencies.  Plus, his professional career as an attorney in a couple big firms will give him access to potential funders for future runs.

Coko Hill - Just weeks removed from her job as a Kansas City organizer for the Barack Obama camp, Coko Hill was named recently as one of two new members of the Kansas City School Board.  Time will tell whether Hill --a young African-American woman-- can use her infectious enthusiasm and boundless energy to help the trouble-plagued Board function in a way that respects students, parents and teachers.  If anyone can help change the tenor of business at the Board, it might be Hill.

Chad Livengood - It's been a tough year for the political press corps in Missouri.  With the shameful casting out of Kit Wagar by the KC Star, the departure to greener pastures of Columbia Trib scribe/blogger Jason Rosenbaum, the announced retirement of Jo Mannies of the Post-Dispatch and the continued downward pressure on newsroom costs for all traditional publications, the corps has been pared down to bare subsistence levels.  But in that void, the Springfield News-Leader's Chad Livengood has thrived, emerging as a strong reporter and consistent hand among the young turks.

Claire McCaskill - It might not seem possible to be declared a high riser for the year two years after election to the United States Senate, but Claire found a way.  Climbing aboard the Obama bandwagon before many seats had been taken, McCaskill risked alienating conventional wisdom and certain demographic constituencies but nevertheless wound up riding it to a spot as a trusted advisor to the world's soon-to-be most powerful man.  Funny, but for Claire 2008 might have been even better than '06.

Margaret Onken - In raising $17.3 million from more than 12,000 grassroots donors for Jay Nixon's successful gubernatorial campaign, Nixon's finance director Margaret Onken set a new bar for a statewide race in Missouri.  In doing so, Onken becomes the state's highest profile Democratic fundraiser, and one whose success is likely only to grow once she's helping a sitting governor raise money.

Sarah Steelman -It should speak volumes that the sole Republican on our list is one who lost a primary election and surrendered a statewide office to do so.  Nevertheless, Sarah Steelman --even in losing a squeaker to Kenny Hulshof-- demonstrated an ability to take on the Republican establishment and outperform expectations.

Mike Talboy - A young and energetic Kansas City Representative, Talboy spent the last year in the House staking out a position as a savvy legislator and sophisticated political thinker.  Little wonder his Dem colleagues chose him to lead their caucus's election efforts in 2010 by heading up the House Democratic Campaign Committee. 

Stephen Webber - A twenty-something Marine and Iraq war veteran, Webber won his Columbia House seat by dominating a contested primary in stunning fashion.  Putting together a steamroller of a campaign, Webber outworked an opponent who started the race as the favorite, building a grassroots door-to-door and fundraising effort that ultimately allowed him to win by a 2-to-1 margin.  If Webber is able to create the same immense forward momentum in his legislative career as he did in his first campaign, he will quickly emerge as one of the most important players in the Missouri General Assembly.

Brian Wahby - St. Louis City Democratic Party Chairman makes the list for his early and robust support and involvement in the Barack Obama campaign --a choice that will elevate him from city political player to go-to guy in St. Louis for a new administration in DC. 

Clint Zweifel - Notwithstanding the fact that Zweifel's margin of victory in the Treasurer's race was the slightest of any statewide Democratic winner, the former North County Representative might have run the most impressive race of any candidate on the 2008 ballot.  Battling through a complicated primary, overcoming crowded airwaves, navigating difficult down-ballot fundraising circumstances and getting past an uncommon surname, Zweifel stayed focused on his message and ran a disciplined campaign that stuck to a plan.  Now the guy with the bright policy mind and reputation as one of the nicest guys in Missouri politics brings his brand of leadership from the legislature to the statewide scene.  A big bump well deserved.

So which high risers did we miss?  Please leave your choices in the comments.