Susan Montee was sworn in as Missouri’s 35th state auditor in January 2007. She won her election with more votes and by a wider margin than any previous state auditor. Susan emphasized her experience as a certified public accountant and county auditor and subsequently became the first state auditor in Missouri history who is both a CPA and attorney. Susan was the first statewide official elected from Buchanan County, in Northwest Missouri, in over 125 years.

Susan used her background as a small business owner to identify overlap in the state auditor’s office and make significant organizational changes. She streamlined procedures and standardized reporting. The increase of shared staff and resources allows the office to run more efficiently. Susan also merged divisions of the state auditor’s office, reducing the number of divisions from four to three. She implemented an instantaneous electronic alert system where Missouri citizens can be notified when new audit reports are issued.

Susan has conducted several audits that have yielded a positive impact for Missouri taxpayers and citizens. The audit of the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA) uncovered blatant waste and abuse, including severance packages to former executives that total almost $2.3 million. Susan’s audit of the Riverview Gardens School District identified fraud on the part of the superintendent, who was subsequently convicted of his crimes. A citizens’ petition prompted an audit of the City of Springfield and City Utilities of Springfield. By the end of the following year, a majority of the audit recommendations had been implemented. Susan alerted the public, general assembly and executive branch of the pending insolvency of the Second Injury Fund. She has urged legislators to make the Second Injury Fund a top priority because of the benefits it conveys to injured workers and veterans. She was petitioned by citizens to audit the City of St. Louis, a process that took over two years and resulted in 23 separate audit reports.

Susan has tackled issues relating to public education, child safety and protection of our most vulnerable citizens. Her audits of student immunization compliance, day care and senior center licensing, and the Safe Schools Initiative have resulted in legislative proposals to solve the inadequacies she uncovered. Susan brought national attention to Missouri when she released her audit that unveiled insufficient school bus driver compliance and background checks.

Susan was born and raised in St. Joseph, the daughter of Arlene Humphrey of St. Joseph and U.S. Marine Galen Humphrey, Missing-in-Action in Vietnam since 1966. Susan graduated from Bishop LeBlond High School in St. Joseph and received an undergraduate degree in accounting from Drury College in Springfield, with minors in economics and business administration.

After receiving her accounting degree, Susan worked as a CPA in both private practice and in one of the nation’s largest accounting firms. Susan then obtained her law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. During her tenure there, she served as business editor for the Law Review. Susan graduated With Distinction in 2000.

Susan’s first elective post was to an at-large, four-year term on the St. Joseph City Council in 1998. In 2000, Susan was elected Buchanan County Auditor. She served the county for two years concurrently with her service on the City Council. In 2002, she was re-elected to a four-year term as County Auditor. During her six years as Buchanan County Auditor, Susan transformed the office, taking it from handwritten ledgers to computers and modern accounting practices.

Susan is a member of the Missouri Society of CPAs and the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys. She also serves on the advisory committee for the Sue Shear Institute for Women in Public Life, the executive committee of the Mid-America Intergovernmental Audit Forum and the membership development committee for the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers. Susan is a member of the Kansas City Association of Women Lawyers, and the American Association of Justice.

Susan was the 2008 “Woman of the Year” award recipient from the Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City. In 2009, the Missouri State Auditors office was awarded the National State Auditors Association (NSAA) “Excellence in Accountability Award” in the 2009 Performance Audit (large) category. The office was honored with this award for the Analysis of Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program audit report (2008-23). This is the first time the Missouri Auditors Office has been awarded this prestigious award.

Susan is the mother of three children, Amanda, Andy and Austin. The family are members of the Christ Episcopal Church.