Holste to be Nixon's communications director

Today is Channing Ansley Grate's last day as Gov. Jay Nixon's communications director.

Scott Holste - a long-time Nixon spokesman in both the governor's and attorney general's offices - becomes the new communications director on Friday.

Grate is leaving Jefferson City to join the "Hillary for America" campaign as the deputy chief of staff, after serving as the governor's communications director since January 2013.

Before that, she was director of Communications and Research for Nixon's 2012 re-election campaign and had worked in policy and research for other Missouri candidates and national organizations.

"Channing's work has been unparalleled in helping to communicate Missouri's message of fiscal discipline, economic growth, college affordability and opportunity for all," Nixon said in a news release. "Her intellect, integrity and work ethic have made her an invaluable member of my senior staff and a trusted advisor on a wide range of issues.

"I wish her continued success in the next chapter of her already stellar career."

The governor called Holste "a trusted part of my team for more than 22 years and a public servant in Missouri for more than 25 years."

Nixon said Holste has "earned the respect of reporters from around the state, and during the remainder of my term as governor, I know he will continue to communicate how we are working every day to improve the lives of Missourians and the many attributes that make Missouri such an outstanding place to live, work and raise a family."

Holste began working for Nixon in 1994, as press secretary in the attorney general's office until 2004, when he became the attorney general's communications director.

When Nixon became governor in 2009, Holste became the governor's press secretary.

Before joining Nixon's attorney general's office, Holste worked for University Hospital in Columbia, the state Department of Natural Resources and the Missouri Association for Community Action.