The campaign finance records now show that Zeff was, at least, a potential contender for Vandeven’s job.

At the time, board members said it was uncommon for a governor to try to influence those appointees to fire someone.

“The State Board of Education is designed by the constitution to be somewhat independent,” board chairman Charlie Shields said.

Greitens decision to reimburse Zeff using campaign dollars is another example of the close coordination between Greitens the governor and Greitens the candidate.

Although state campaign finance laws say donor contributions are supposed to be used to support or oppose candidates for public office, chambers says the financial maneuver was legal.

Under state law, Chambers said, contributions may be used for any purpose allowed by law including, but not limited to, any ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in connection with the duties of a holder of elective office.

“This expense was incurred in connection with the governor’s duties. Not only was it a permissible expense because it was not for a prohibited purpose (such as personal enrichment), it was an expense whose permissibility is explicitly recognized by law,” Chambers said in an email to the Post-Dispatch.