KRCG, Tuesday, July 07, 2009 at 5:49 p.m.

Former State Department Official Tom Schweich opens his run for Missouri Auditor with a pledge to scrutinize the state's share of federal stimulus money.

Schweich kicked off his campaign Tuesday with a statewide fly-around, which included a stop in Columbia.

Schweich is not a professional auditor, but his resume is eye-catching. 

"I ran an office of 4,000 people in 80 countries with a 2.5 to three-billion-dollar budget,” Schweich said. “Fighting drugs, crime, gangs, money laundering, all sorts of illegal criminal activity all around the world.”

For Jack Danforth, he ran the investigation of FBI actions at Waco.  For the UN, he investigated food for oil and other scams. For the George W. Bush state department, he chased terrorists and drug lords in Afghanistan.

Schweich says a lot of auditing went along with those jobs. He enters political life at the urging of Danforth and others.

He considered, then scrapped a bid to replace Kit Bond in the senate.

"A bitter primary with congressman Blunt is not gonna serve anybody very well,” Schweich said. “I met with Roy Blunt, he came to my house. He talked through the issues and concerns I had.  And I really thought the best thing for me to do is step aside in the interest of party unity.”

Aside, but not out.

In running for auditor, Schweich must defeat Missouri House Budget Chairman Allen Icet who has already been endorsed by more than 80 state lawmakers.

"You know, he's the head of the house budget committee, so getting these endorsements is pretty predictable,” Schweich said. “I've talked to many house members.  I think I will have support from the house. And I stepped aside once in the interest of party unity and I can tell ya, I'm not gonna do it again.”

Schweich joins State House Budget Committee Chairman Allen Icet of suburban St. Louis, in a likely republican primary in 20-10.

Icet touts his budget experience and announced endorsements Tuesday from 80 of his fellow 88 house Republicans and two state senators.

Both are seeking to challenge Democratic Incumbent Auditor Susan Montee.