Analysis: Mo. Gov Stayed In Dark About E. Coli

CHRIS BLANK

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Aides for Gov. Jay Nixon knew about bacteria problems at the Lake of the Ozarks, but Missouri's chief executive apparently governed in the dark for nearly two months before learning about the issue from the media.

Information about E. coli at the lake trickled from the Department of the Natural Resources into the governor's office. At least one Cabinet member, two gubernatorial aides and Nixon's chief of staff knew something was up, but the governor did not.

It is an example of a widespread communication failure in Nixon's administration, or it's a possible example of plausible deniability, in which top officials are shielded from potentially damaging or embarrassing information.

The issue started in May when water samples were taken from the Lake of the Ozarks. Results from one of those tests was not released to the public until late June. Nixon apparently learned what was happening after reading a mid-July article in The Kansas City Star.

Here is how it happened:

On May 18, the Department of Natural Resources tested water at two public beaches in the Lake of the Ozarks and discovered bacteria was high at one of them. On May 26, samples were taken elsewhere from the lake for a different water testing program funded by Ameren Corp. Then on May 27, more beach samples were taken that also found high bacteria levels at one beach.