Former Republican gubernatorial nominee Dave Spence has dropped out of consideration for a seat on the five-member St. Louis County Board of Police Commissioners, citing the stringent screening process recently enacted by the County Council.
Spence said in a letter released Tuesday by County Executive Charlie Dooley's office that he has no problem submitting to background checks, but he worries that the council cannot safeguard his business and personal information.
Dooley says the process, enacted by the council after an FBI investigation of former police board chairman Gregory Sansone, leaves financial records of nominees open to scrutiny through Missouri's open records law.
The board is currently meeting with just two members - short of a quorum.
Spence ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2012, losing to incumbent Democrat Jay Nixon.
