Missouri Auditor Tom Schweich announced yesterday his candidacy for governor in 2016, and he plans a tour stop in Springfield today.
Elected auditor in 2010 and re-elected in November, Schweich becomes the second Republican to announce plans to run for the governor’s seat. Former state Rep.
Catherine Hanaway, a partner with Husch Blackwell LLP in St. Louis, entered the race last year.
After six years in office, Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon will term out. When U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., said earlier this month she would not run for governor, she publicly endorsed Democratic candidate and Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster, according to
St. Louis Public Radio.
In a news release, Schweich said he would run on a platform for three primary goals: cleaning up Jefferson City corruption, promoting Missouri’s economy and improving public schools.
“As a state, we are facing some very serious challenges. We need stronger leadership and more honest government. We need fairer economic policies, and we need to improve our struggling schools,” Schweich said in the release. “Twice now you have put your trust in me to lead the state as Missouri’s official taxpayer watchdog. Now I am asking that you stand beside me as we fight to make Missouri government more accountable and transparent by putting a true anticorruption expert in the governor’s mansion.”
Schweich is scheduled to make a Springfield campaign stop around 5 p.m. today at Positronic Industries Inc., 1325 N. Eldon Ave.
Prior to being elected as Missouri auditor, Schweich worked 2007-08 as U.S. coordinator for counter-narcotics and justice reform in Afghanistan. His past experience also includes work as principal deputy assistant secretary of state and acting assistant secretary of state for the U.S. Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. In that role, he oversaw the activities of 4,000 people in more than 40 countries with a budget of $2.5 billion, according to the release.
In 2011, the state auditor sued Nixon for allegedly violating the Missouri Constitution by withholding more than $170 million in funds appropriated for state agencies and programs for Joplin relief efforts, according to Springfield Business Journal archives. The Missouri Supreme Court dismissed the suit in October 2013, saying it was premature but leaving Schweich the option to refile it. Asked in September by
Missourinet whether he would do so by, the auditor said, “Not necessarily.”[[In-content Ad]]
