First of all, I want to first of all let every reader of this newspaper know that it is a tremendous and humbling honor to be the publisher of the California Democrat, and a particular honor to return this most important institution to local central Missouri ownership.
To tell you a bit about myself, I am from the bootheel, West Butler County to be precise. I was raised in a trailer down on the state line, and I first came to central Missouri over twenty years ago with our local State Representative Mark Richardson to the state capitol and fell in love with not just our majestic state capitol but central Missouri as well.
I’ve worked in downtown Jefferson City publishing The Missouri Times and hosting our television show This Week in Missouri Politics since 2012.
I have a beautiful daughter named Millie who is 16 and a son Gussie who is 9 who many of you will get to meet running around the office when you visit. In every way the California Democrat is once again a Missouri family owned business.
Mrs. Weldon and the Hussman family have left an incredible legacy that stands shoulder to shoulder with the top newspapers in this state. I have been a reader, admirer, and fan of this newspaper as long as I’ve lived here. In fact, I purchased it because I am such a fan of it, and such a strong believer that locally owned newspapers are the bedrock of any successful community.
As you know there is a multi-decade trend of corporations buying local newspapers and decimating them to squeeze every last nickel out of them as they wither on the vine.
I love this newspaper, so you will not hear about layoffs or see our coverage shrink. In part because of the amazing staff that does more with less than any group of people I’ve ever met, and in part because I bought this newspaper to grow it not to shrink it.
I’m familiar with the pessimism surrounding legacy media. Since the first day I started The Missouri Times the elitist in the media establishment have delighted in telling me how we would fail, and yet here we are, and now here we go again.
However, Mr. Hussman was as correct as he was candid in his remarks in December that the California Democrat is not in a healthy financial state.
We are going to have to rethink how we bring you the news, and what products we offer our advertising partners. That is going to include everyone at this newspaper and if we are going to be successful its going to have to include everyone in this community.
A successful local newspaper is a key part of any successful local community. In truth, everyone in this community is in this together with us. I firmly believe that for this community to be at its best it needs the California Democrat at its best, and there is no doubt in my mind the only way to get it back to its best is with everyone in this community involved.
Together, are going to try some things, some will work, and some won’t. Over time we will get here.
California deserves a locally owned newspaper as great as this community and a locally owned newspaper worthy of covering Moniteau County.
This is an exciting time to be in California. We are now starting to see the growth and opportunities that the expansion of Highway 50 has brought. We have a Governor who made his fortune and raised his family right here in central Missouri.
Perhaps most exciting is that there is a new crop of leaders in the state and the region from right here in Moniteau County. Alongside Governor Kehoe in a top position is Drew Dampf, Caleb Jones runs the Missouri Association of Electric Co-ops one of the most influential associations in the state. Davin Althoff is in a top position at the Missouri Farm Bureau, Casey Wasser a pillar of the community run the Missouri Soybean Association, Alex Tuttle fresh off of his own stint at the top of the Parson administration is a leading lobbyist, David Kent is a top executive with the Missouri Bankers Association, and we could go on. The fact is people from our community are leading the region and the state, and that makes it a doubly exciting time for the California Democrat.
I’m bullish on California, and I’m bullish on the California Democrat.
I can only commit to giving you every ounce of blood, sweat and tears. I have to earn your respect and prove worthy of the legacy of Mrs. Weldon and Mr. Hussman.
In an attempt to show you how committed I am to asking for your help my personal cell phone is 573-429-5770.
That is the only cell phone I have and it comes right to my pocket.
Text me anytime day or night if you have a suggestion, or an idea, or a question, or just want to meet up and have a cup of coffee or I’ll buy you a beer (I forgot to mention I’m German).
Again, its an honor to publish the legendary California Democrat.
Now lets get to work.
Scott Faughn, Publisher