By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star editorial page columnist

Never let it be said Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon can't learn from experience.

Criticized for his first economic development director pick -- a lawyer who turned out to be inexperienced in the art of the development deal -- Nixon has gone for a pro.

That would be David D. Kerr, commerce secretary for the state of Kansas. He'll cross the state line and start work Nov. 9.

Landing Kerr, a former AT&T Kansas president, is a coup for Nixon, and shows he's serious about reviving Missouri's economy. Kansas has jumped way ahead of Missouri in some important ways, most notably in the bioscience field.

No word yet from Kerr on why he's making the big move. It might have something to do with the coming change in the Kansas governor's office. Kerr was Democrat Kathleen Sebelius's appointee. Republican U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, her almost certain successor, will bring a different philosophy when it comes to development and just about everything else. Maybe Kerr thought Nixon's Democratic administration is more in keeping with her style.

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