State auditor is an elected position that doesn’t usually receive much attention from the voter. That’s too bad, because an efficient, professional auditor can do a lot to save taxpayers’ money.
Missourians, on Nov. 2, have two good choices for the job.
Susan Montee, the Democratic incumbent, and Tom Schweich, the Republican challenger, are both impressive candidates.
This is Schweich’s first bid for an elective office. He is an author and lawyer, served as a special federal prosecutor and is a teacher in St. Louis at the Washington University School of Law.
Montee has worked hard to earn the reputation of an efficient, professional state auditor. During her tenure she turned in an audit on the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA) that showed severance packages paid to former executives of nearly $2.3 million. She found that politicians and administrators had underestimated the cost of tax credits on Missouri’s budget by $1.1 billion over a five-year period. She has also received the “excellence in accountability” award from the National State Auditors Association. She has increased her output of audits from 91 in 2007 to 151 last year, all while absorbing cuts to staff. She is also a certified public accountant.
Schweich, during a recent debate with Montee, noted that he has experience in routing out corruption. We think there are lots of opportunities for him in state and national politics.
Our nod goes to Montee because she has shown us that she does look for fraud in state government. Her work for the taxpayers should not be interrupted. The position of state auditor is a nonpartisan one. We’ve talked with politicians on both sides of the aisle, and they agree that Montee has done a good job.
Let’s keep her in office.
Opinion
In our view: Montee has earned re-election
- Opinion
-
-
Our View: Victims should come first
Millions of dollars in donations have poured in from around the world since the May 22, 2011, tornado. Those donations represent money from lemonade stands, charity auctions, corporate gifts and celebrity checks, just to name a few. In fact, one year later donations continue to come to Joplin.
-
Beth Meeker, guest columnist: Same-sex marriage battle a quest for equal rights
I would like to take a moment to reply to guest columnist Anson Burlingame’s, “The Marriage Debate” (Globe, May 13).
-
Sunday Forum: 2012 graduation speakers key on tornado, mall school and president’s visit
Editor’s note: In addition to speeches by President Barack Obama and Gov. Jay Nixon, Joplin High School’s top students addressed graduates, faculty, parents and other guests packed into the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center on the Missouri Southern State University campus. Following are the text of those speeches.
-
Geoff Caldwell, guest columnist: Pack mentality takes truth as a casualty
President Obama’s Joplin graduation speech Monday showed that while there’s the political “right,” there’s also a very active “rabid” political right.
-
Your View: ‘Study’ can mean anything
A few evenings ago, I watched a television program on the science of marriage.
-
Our View: Support for museum
How can you tell the story of Joplin without the accounts of its mining history?
-
Our View: Finding middle ground
The G-8 summit held last week in Camp David ended as expected.
-
Anson Burlingame, guest columnist: Class of 2012 upholds character, hope
My oldest granddaughter was part of the class of 2012 from Joplin High School, and I attended the ceremony on Monday night.
-
Scott Charton, guest columnist: 'Deadline in Disaster' film a story about storytellers
Local newspapers are at their best when they help their communities confront, understand, endure and overcome shared challenges.
-
Our View: Make voting easiser
This year’s ballot will not include a proposed constitutional amendment that photo identification be required at the polls in Missouri. Good.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Our View: Victims should come first
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
