Hancock and Kelley will be back on Fox2 in September

Q: What happened to “Hancock and Kelley,” the 30-minute political show on Fox2 on Sunday mornings? I liked their friendly discussions on local and national political candidates and topics.

A: I certainly feel your withdrawal pains. While Rush Limbaugh’s pontifications can have me scrambling for the radio dial in 10 seconds (or less), I am addicted to the tête-à-tête between Mark Shields and David Brooks on PBS and John Hancock and Michael Kelley on KMOX/KTVI. They can intelligently debate very different viewpoints without coming off as know-it-alls.

So, I have great news for both you and me. After taking a short break to gather strength for the election season’s stretch run, the two friendly foes will pop up on your TV again at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 11, KTVI/KPLR’s Suzi Mahe tells me.

If you aren’t familiar, Hancock, the conservative, has been involved in politics for three decades. A former Missouri state legislator, he served as the executive director of the Missouri Republican Party from 1997 to 2003. During that time, the Missouri GOP began taking over the state’s house and senate and gaining seats in the U.S. Congress.

In 2005, Hancock established Public Pulse Research, which has provided public opinion surveys and other research information for corporate and political clients in 18 states. He also created the Missouri Pulse Poll, which provides quarterly data to clients statewide.

Kelley has an equally impressive resumé. He has served as the political director of the Missouri AFL-CIO, executive director and treasurer of the Missouri Democratic Party and national political adviser to Missouri’s Dick Gephardt, a former minority leader in the U.S. House of Representatives.

In 2004, he started The Kelley Group Inc., a public communications company that assists clients in the fields of government, business and labor. The St. Charles, Mo., native is also active on a number of university, hospital and veterans organizations.

Long may their amiable verbal sparring continue.

This story was originally published August 25, 2016 at 11:41 AM with the headline "Hancock and Kelley will be back on Fox2 in September."