‘SCARY!’: Jackson County Republicans oppose Gov. Parson’s health director over vaccines
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The Jackson County Republican Committee is opposing Gov. Mike Parson’s appointee to lead Missouri’s pandemic response over his enthusiasm for vaccination.
The local party’s condemnation of Department of Health and Senior Services Acting Director Donald Kauerauf illustrates the right-wing pressure Parson continues to face on COVID-19 despite the Republican governor’s own outspoken denunciation of vaccine mandates.
“Let’s stop this man before he has a chance to drag us back in to tyranny!” Jackson County GOP chair David Lightner wrote about Kauerauf in an email message on Thursday.
The message sought to rally opposition to Kauerauf and urged Republicans to call members of the Senate Gubernatorial Appointments Committee. The message misspelled Kauerauf’s name as “Krauerauf” multiple times as well as the name of Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, a Parkville Republican who sits on the committee.
The governor’s office and DHSS didn’t immediately comment. Parson, who isn’t mentioned in Lightner’s message, appointed Kauerauf in July to lead DHSS and he took over the agency in September.
On Thursday, Lightner wrote that Kauerauf said he wants Missouri to achieve a 100% vaccination rate and claimed “he’s willing to ‘reeducate’ the non-vaxxed if need be... SCARY!”
Kauerauf has been a clear supporter of vaccination but has also joined Parson in criticizing federal mandates. In a September news conference, he spoke about the importance of getting accurate information to people who are vaccine hesitant.
He has also expressed a dim view of Missouri’s progress in vaccinating residents.
“It’s atrocious where we are with vaccinations,” Kauerauf told KRCG in November.
About 54% of Missourians are fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which defines fully vaccinated as two doses of a two-shot vaccine or one dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Less than 40% of the population has received a booster.
Before coming to Missouri, Kauerauf chaired the Illinois Terrorism Task Force and was assistant director of the Illinois Department of Public Health from 2016 until his retirement in 2018. In July, Parson said it was obvious Kauerauf had a “firm grasp on public health issues” and the pandemic.
While Kauerauf is currently leading DHSS, the Senate must still confirm him. His hearing has not yet been scheduled. Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz, a Sullivan Republican, said last week the lack of a hearing date doesn’t indicate there’s a concern with the nominee.
“No, I think it’s just part of the process of getting folks through,” Schatz said.
The Star’s Jeanne Kuang contributed reporting
