Rob Mayer's time as the Missouri Senate's president pro tem - the top Senate leadership post - was born in controversy nearly 19 months ago and, some would argue, stayed there for most of the time.
"We had a drawing (in the Republican caucus)," Sen. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, reminded the whole Senate during the final minutes on May 18, the last day lawmakers could debate and vote on bills.
Engler, the Senate's floor leader in 2009-10, had been expected to be chosen as the next president pro tem during the GOP's after-election caucus in November 2010.