Heafty Endorcements and Experience
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Heafty Endorcements and Experience

Date: October 14, 2010
By: Molly Boland
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
The GOP candidate for state auditor cites his qualifications in his campaign.
RunTime:  4:07
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Despite not being a Certified Public Accountant, Tom Schweich's campaign manager argues that he's the most qualified candidate to ever run for state auditor.

His background includes a law degree from Harvard and he wrote books discussing busniess law and avoiding financial risks.

He also held the title of Chief of Staff in both the Waco Texas investigations and the United States Mission to the United Nations.

Not too mention facing corruption and drug trade in Afghanistan and teaching at Washington University School of Law.

As for not being a CPA, Schweich says he doesn't think he'll be at a disadvantage because he has worked on audits with CPAs for much of his life.

Schweich also says he has what CPAs in the state auditor's office could use.

Actuality:  SCHWEIC1.WAV
Run Time:  00:13
Description: "What they need right now is better management capability which I bring to the table and that law enforcement, tenacity and toughness that's lacking right now. And that's what I would add, that's the dimension that I would add to the excellent group of CPAs that are already there."

But during the only debate between the auditor candidates, his Democratic opponent and current state auditor Susan Montee criticized Schweich's lack of accounting experience.

But Schweich later dismissed that attack.

Actuality:  SCHWEIC3.WAV
Run Time:  00:03
Description: "The idea that someone is suggesting that I'm unqualified for the job is almost a joke."

 

Former ambassador to the United Nations and United States Senator Jack Danforth is one of Schweich's many endorsers who raves about his qualifications.

Besides working along side Schweich at the St. Louis Bryan Cave law firm, Danforth appointed Schweich as his chief of staff during the Waco Texas investigation.

The two have known each other for more than twenty-five years.

Actuality:  DANFORT2.WAV
Run Time:  00:13
Description: "He is very smart, very well organized and able, and when he takes something on he does it right."

He also says he thinks Missourians are not concerned whether a Republican or Democrat holds the office of state auditor.

Schweich agrees.

Actuality:  SWHWEIC4.WAV
Run Time:  00:08
Description: "For the most part the auditor is a non-partisan and non-political position involved with rooting out fraud, waste, abuse and corruption. So in ninety something percent of the cases it really isn't relevant."

Still Schweich says he is a Republican and will support Republican causes independent from his auditing activities.

Beside Danforth is Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder, another major GOP player supporting Schweich.

Kinder says his own campaign has donated nearly one quarter of a million dollars to the "Schweich for Auditor" campaign fund.  

Actuality:  KINDER2.WAV
Run Time:  00:09
Description: "At a time when we have five point something billion dollars in stimulus money coming into the state this is just the kind of person we need."

Kinder added:

Actuality:  KINDER4.WAV
Run Time:  00:07
Description:  "We need aggressive, honest people of integrity to come in and help us out so I was proud to help him."

Kinder says the Missouri state auditor's office could benefit from someone like Schweich and Danforth agrees:

Actuality:  DANFOR10.WAV
Run Time:  00:17
Description: "It is something that would utilize some of the strongest points that Tom has and um and that he would be he would bring exceptional qualifications to the office of state auditor."

Schweich has never held a public elected office but Danforth says he doesn't think this is a problem.

Actuality:  DANFORT5.WAV
Run Time:  00:13
Description: "I'm not sure that as far as the public is concerned, long experience as an elected politician is viewed as the greatest of all qualifications.

He says the job calls for ability and someone who can do a good job and this is Tom Schweich.

Danforth is also familiar with Schweich's family.

Schweich says he and his family are pretty private.

Actuality:  SCHWEIC6.WAV
Run Time:  00:08
Description: "But I will tell you I've been married for twenty three years to Kathy Schweich with a 'K' and we met in seventh grade in St. Louis county public schools."

Schweich has two children, Emilie is eighteen and Thomas Jr. is twelve.

They both attend the very schools their parents met at years ago.

In his spare time Schweich says he likes to spend time increasing his coin and autograph collection.

He also plays guitar and has an enormous interest in history.  

If elected Schweich says he must first talk things over with his family, but he plans to commute to the office in Jefferson City.

From the sate Capitol, I'm Molly Boland.