Senate committee approves Todd Graves nomination to University of Missouri curators Rudi Keller Missouri Independent Former Missouri Republican Party Chairman Todd Graves is one step closer to a seat on the University of Missouri Board of Curators following a Senate committee vote that saw bipartisan support and opposition to his appointment. One Democrat — Sen. Brian Williams of Ferguson — joined six Republicans in the 7-4 vote in the Gubernatorial Appointments Committee to send Gov. Mike Parson’s controversial choice for the board to the full Senate. Two Republicans — Sens. Mike Moon of Ash Grove and Paul Wieland of Imperial — joined with Sen. John Rizzo, D-Independence, and Sen. Angela Mosley, D-Florissant, in opposition.