This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, July 17, 2012 - Former Post-Dispatch political reporter Jake Wagman has already snagged a couple of clients for his new firm, Shield Political Research.
According to the latest campaign finance reports, Wagman’s clients include St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, who paid him $2,500, and state Rep. Jamilah Nasheed, who paid $1,500 for his services.
Both payments were made on June 27, just days after he left the Post-Dispatch and via email announced the launch of his consulting firm, Shield Research, which specializes in opposition research.
Slay and Nasheed are both Democrats. Nasheed is running for the 5th District state Senate seat now occupied by fellow Democrat Robin Wright-Jones, who is running for re-election. Also competing for the seat is state Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford, D-St. Louis.
Wagman said in a brief statement that "the reception to the new firm has been tremendously positive and the work very enjoyable." He said he would not discuss specific clients.
Wagman knows a lot about Wright-Jones’ controversial finances because he wrote most of the stories that raised questions about her campaign spending and money-raising.
Wagman left his Post-Dispatch job a few weeks ago. He and his family are moving to Indiana, where his wife has gotten a tenure-track post at a university.
