Many seeking financial post
Candidates vary on why they think they are best-suited to oversee the state's fiscal needs.
TIM HOOVER
The Kansas City Star

JEFFERSON CITY Who is most qualified to be state auditor? A certified public accountant, a state lawmaker, a combat veteran?

The eight contenders in the Aug. 8 primary point to their background in these and other fields as evidence that they're best suited to be the state's financial watchdog.

The state auditor reviews the finances of all state agencies, boards and commissions and audits the 89 counties that don't have county auditors. In addition, the auditor's office conducts reviews of the efficiency of state agencies and programs.

The eight-person scramble for the auditor's post was prompted by the decision of State Auditor Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, to forgo another term so she could challenge Republican U.S. Senator Jim Talent.

The real action in the primary for auditor is on the Republican side, as five GOP candidates square off: Sen. John Loudon and Rep. Jack Jackson, both of St. Louis County; Platte County Auditor Sandra Thomas, a certified public accountant; Rep. Mark Wright of Springfield; and perennial candidate Al Hanson of Concordia.

On the Democratic side, Buchanan County Auditor Susan Montee, a certified public accountant and a lawyer, will face Darrell Wattenbarger, a certified public accountant from Columbia. Charles Baum, a financial planner from St. Louis County, is the only Libertarian candidate in the race.

The Talent-McCaskill race and a host of ballot questions on issues such as protecting stem-cell research and raising taxes on tobacco are likely to overshadow the auditor's race in the November general election. Still, the post, which pays $96,455 a year, has been a steppingstone for politicians through the years.

Republican U.S. Sen. Kit Bond served as auditor, as did fellow Republican John Ashcroft, his appointed successor.

Bond, Ashcroft and McCaskill share something in common as state auditors: None of them was a certified public accountant.

Both political parties have argued at various times, depending on who was running, that a CPA was or wasn't necessary.

In this year's match-up, Thomas, on the Republican side, argues that the auditor should be a CPA.

"It makes sense to have someone who has the accounting background to do that job," said Thomas, who, despite being elected to office three times, said she considers herself an accountant, not a politician.

Not surprisingly, the Republicans who aren't CPAs disagree.

"I don't think there's been a recognizable difference between those auditors who have had or haven't had that (CPA) designation," said Wright.

Wright said his time in the legislature gives him familiarity with government and leadership skills other candidates don't have. Loudon also touted his experience as a lawmaker and as an insurance broker.

"We make the president the commander in chief of the military, but we don't require that he be a general," Loudon said.

Jackson, meanwhile, said he is better qualified than other candidates precisely because he has served in the military as a Marine pilot in Vietnam.

"I think anybody who has led men in combat and has been responsible for their safety, well-being and winning the war fully understands what it takes to lead a state department," Jackson said.

Hanson became the Republican nominee for auditor in 2002 after spending no money and doing no campaigning, beating the party favorite. The Missouri Republican Party disowned him, though, after it was revealed he was a convicted felon who had served time for fraud.

Hanson, who runs a prison ministry, said he's running again because of his success in 2002.

"It would be foolish for me not to make another try," he said.

So far, Jackson has reported the largest war chest of all candidates -- $707,969, of which $500,000 was from a loan. The most recent campaign contribution reports show he still had $661,241 on hand.

Loudon came in second among Republicans, having raised $330,709, with $226,959 available. Thomas was third among Republicans with $183,025, $150,000 of which was reported as a loan. She reported having $182,625 still available.

Wright reported having $84,820, of which $50,000 was loans. He still had $83,529 available. Hanson filed documents saying he would not raise more than $500.

A recent St. Louis Post-Dispatch poll showed Jackson leading Republicans with 19 percent and Loudon a close second at 17 percent. Still, some 39 percent of Republicans were undecided.

As for the Democrats, Montee said it was helpful for the state auditor to be a CPA, but not absolutely necessary. She said she was distinguished among all the candidates because she is both a CPA and an attorney.

"I think I have the training to do both the performance and the financial audits," Montee said.

Her primary opponent, Wattenbarger, said it was necessary to be a CPA. A former senior auditor with the state auditor's office and an accountant who has worked for city governments, Wattenbarger said he had the most governmental accounting experience.

"I m not looking to become governor or senator or president or anything else," he said.

Montee reported a campaign total of $639,543, of which $500,000 was from a loan. Wattenbarger filed documents saying he would not raise more than $500.

Baum, the Libertarian, also isn't raising any money and admitted he didn't expect to win. A financial planner, Baum said he wasn't beholden to any party interests or contributors.

"I m running to give people a choice," he said.

AL HANSON
Party: Republican
Age: 76
Residence: Concordia
Occupation: Runs a prison ministry
Education: Bachelor's degree in history from Augsburg College, Minneapolis, and a master's degree in "restorative justice" from Therapon University, a distance-learning institution.
Previous elective office: Republican nominee for state auditor in 2002, ran for state treasurer in 2004. Also has run for public office as a Democrat.
Campaign emphasis: Hanson says his experience in business makes him qualified to lead the auditor's office.
Web site: http://www.ylm.org/ alhanson/

JACK JACKSON
Party: Republican
Age: 63
Residence: St. Louis County
Occupation: State representative from St. Louis County, retired test pilot for Boeing and retired Marine colonel
Education: Bachelor's degree in industrial management, Purdue University; master's degree in human resource management, Pepperdine University
Previous elective office: Elected to Missouri House in 2002
Campaign emphasis: As a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, Jackson says his combat experience, as well as his years as a test pilot, gives him leadership skills he can use as state auditor.
Web site:http://www.jackjackson. org/index.htm

JOHN LOUDON
Party: Republican
Age: 38
Residence: St. Louis County.
Occupation: State senator from St. Louis County, licensed insurance broker and runs a public relations business.
Education: Bachelor's degree, Westminster College; pursuing distance-learning legal degree from Oak Brook College, Fresno, Calif.
Previous elective office: Served in Missouri House 1994-1998. Elected to Senate in 2000, re-elected 2004.
Campaign emphasis: Loudon touts his legislative experience, pointing to his sponsorship of legislation that placed tighter restrictions on workers compensation. He also says he is the only Republican candidate who can raise enough money to win the general election.
Web site: http://www.johnloudon.com/ index.html

SANDRA THOMAS
Party: Republican.
Age: 40.
Residence: Smithville.
Occupation: Platte County auditor, CPA.
Education: Bachelor's degree in accounting, William Jewell College; master's degree in accounting, UMKC.
Previous elective office: Elected Platte County auditor in 1994, 1998 and 2002.
Campaign emphasis: Thomas maintains that the state auditor should be a CPA and points to her 12 years of experience auditing one of the state's fastest-growing counties.
Web site: http://www. sandrathomascpa. com/index.ihtml

MARK WRIGHT
Party: Republican.
Age: 37.
Residence: Springfield.
Occupation: State representative, projects development manager for company that operates nursing homes and assisted living centers.
Education: Attended Baptist Bible College, Springfield.
Previous elective office: Elected to Missouri House 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004.
Campaign emphasis: Wright cites his role as assistant House majority leader as proof of his leadership abilities and points to his involvement in having the House printing contract rebid to save money.
Web site: http://www.wrightforauditor. com/

SUSAN MONTEE
Party: Democrat.
Age: 47.
Residence: St. Joseph.
Occupation: Buchanan County auditor, CPA and an attorney.
Education: Bachelor's degree, Drury College; law degree, UMKC
Previous elective office: Elected to at-large four-year term on the St. Joseph City Council in 1998. Elected Buchanan County auditor in a special election in 2000; re-elected in 2002 to a four-year term.
Campaign emphasis: As both a CPA and an attorney, Montee says she is uniquely qualified among candidates to lead the auditor's office.
Web site: http://www.susanmontee. com/

DARRELL WATTENBARGER
Party: Democrat.
Age: 56.
Residence: Columbia.
Occupation: CPA, former senior auditor for state auditor's office, former city controller for Columbia.
Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration, Columbia College
Previous elective office: None.
Campaign emphasis: Wattenbarger says he is the only candidate to have actually worked in the state auditor's office and has the most experience in public auditing of all contenders.
Web site: None.

CHARLES BAUM
Party: Libertarian.
Age: 59.
Residence: St. Louis County.
Occupation: Financial planner.
Education: Bachelor's in business, University of Missouri-Columbia; master's degree in teaching, Webster University.
Previous elective office: None.
Campaign emphasis: Baum says that as the only Libertarian in the race, he will not be beholden to party officials, contributors or special interests if elected.