Attorney General candidate Chris Koster* landed another big union endorsement this week. The former Republican who is now seeking the Democratic nomination for A.G. has picked up the support of the 4,000-member Springfield Building and Construction Trades Council.

“Senator Koster has shown that his commitment to organized labor is unwavering and no one knows as well as building and construction trades unions in our state of Missouri how important it is to have a strong Attorney General who will fight for workers’ rights,” said Jim Tyson, president of the organization.

The Springfield Building and Construction Trades Council is comprised of Boilermakers Local 83, Bricklayers Local 15, Carpenters Local 978, Ironworkers Local 10, Operating Engineers Local 101, Roofers Local 20, Painters Local 203, Electrical Workers Local 453, Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 178, Sheet Metal Workers Local 336, Heat/Frost/Asbestos Workers, and Teamsters Local 245.

Koster’s labor support is running very deep. The latest list of endorsers includes:

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters including Teamsters Local 6, Teamsters Local 41, Teamsters Local 245, Teamsters Local 541, Teamsters Local 600, Teamsters Local 604, Teamsters Local 610, Teamsters Local 618, Teamsters Local 682, Teamsters Local 688, Teamsters Local 823, Teamsters Local 833, Teamsters Local 838, Teamsters Local 955; the Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters including IAFF Local L3122, IAFF Local L3739, IAFF Local L1084, IAFF Local 3133, IAFF Local L2460, IAFF Local L2743, IAFF Local L2945, IAFF Local L3228, IAFF Local L1786, IAFF Local L1211, IAFF Local L0671, IAFF Local L2618, IAFF Local L0042, IAFF Local L3808, IAFF Local L2952, IAFF Local L3987, IAFF Local L2195, IAFF Local L1889, IAFF Local L2184, IAFF Local L3031, IAFF Local L1030, IAFF Local L2543, IAFF Local L2665, IAFF Local L2921, IAFF Local L2001, IAFF Local L1730, IAFF Local 3905, IAFF Local 0757, IAFF Local L3410, IAFF Local L3705, IAFF Local 0077, IAFF Local 3112, IAFF Local L2677, IAFF Local L3904, IAFF Local L0152, IAFF Local L0073, IAFF Local L3769, IAFF Local L3923, IAFF Local L4026, the Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council, the Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO, Bricklayers #15, Electricians #124, Heat & Frost Insulators #27, Roofers #20, Operating Engineers #101, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1287, Carpenters’ District Council of Kansas City and Vicinity, which is comprised of the Lathers #27-L, Carpenters #55, Carpenters #61, Carpenters #106, Carpenters #110, Carpenters #168, Carpenters #201, Carpenters #244, Carpenters #311, Carpenters #444, Carpenters #510, Carpenters #515, Carpenters #714, Carpenters #777, Carpenters #918, Carpenters #945, Carpenters #948, Carpenters #978, Carpenters #1055, Floorlayers #1181, Carpenters #1329, Carpenters #1445, Millwright #1463, Millwright #1529, Cabinetmakers #1635, Carpenters #1904, Millwright #2834, Service Employees International Union Local 2000, and the Fraternal Order of Police, Missouri State Lodge.

*Koster is a client of A D French & Associates (website design)

Former state rep. Nathan Cooper was sentenced to 15 months in a federal prison.

Attorney General candidate Chris Koster announced that the campaign has hired Democratic strategist Nick Baldick to serve as general consultant.

From the press release:

Baldick, the President and founder of the consulting firm Hilltop Public Solutions, previously served as John Edwards’ 2004 presidential campaign manager, State Director for Vice President Al Gore’s winning New Hampshire primary effort, and State Director of Clinton-Gore 96’s successful effort to win Florida for the first time in 20 years. He also served for 5 years as a principal at Dewey Square, where he enacted grassroots and public affairs strategies. Baldick will advise the campaign as it staffs up for the August 2008 primary.

“Nick’s experience as one of the national Democratic Party’s top strategists will be a great asset to our campaign,” Koster said. “With his guidance, Missourians for Koster will build a statewide organization and continue to build momentum in the race for Attorney General.”

Along with the hiring of Baldick, the campaign announced the departure of Elisabeth Smith, who is leaving to serve as the communications director on a top-tier Midwestern congressional race.

Attorney General Jay Nixon, Democratic candidate for governor, has notified the Missouri Ethics Commission that he plans to return over-limit contributions to his campaign.

Attorney General candidate Chris Koster also notified the Commission that his campaign will also begin the process.

From the Nixon campaign:

“The campaign will return contributions received in excess of the newly reinstated limits in accordance with the Court’s ruling,” wrote campaign manager Ken Morley in a letter to the MEC. “We believe that if a candidate has sufficient cash on hand, then returning excess contributions in order to be compliant with the law is not a hardship. We therefore believe that circumstances do not exist under which a candidate for Governor could in good faith request, or that the Ethics Commission could conceivably grant, a hardship in this instance.”

From the Koster campaign:

“Today, Missourians for Koster notified the Missouri Ethics Commission that they intend to begin the process of returning contributions from individuals in excess of current contribution limits.”

State Rep. Margaret Donnelly, a candidate for Attorney General, is threatening legal action against the Missouri Ethics Commission over its plans to hold closed hearings to determine which campaigns would face “hardships” by being forced to return large campaign contributions.

“The people of Missouri are fed up with government behind closed doors,” said Donnelly. “If the Missouri Ethics Commission goes forward with its plans for closed hardship hearings, I will file suit and ask the courts to force them into compliance.”

The Missouri Ethics Commission notified candidates that they must respond to the commission by November 26 if they have returned or are planning to return over-the-limit contributions. Candidates wanting to keep over-the-limit contributions must respond by December 3. Donnelly returned over-the-limit contributions last quarter, leaving her campaign with considerably less cash on-hand than her Democratic opponents.