Schweich Announces Latest Endorsement of Growing Support

ST. LOUIS – Tom Schweich, a former U.S. Ambassador, prosecutor, and international law enforcement official, today announced beloved Southeast Missourian and former Republican State Representative Mary Kasten has endorsed his State Auditor campaign for the 2010 election.

Kasten joins a growing list of Missouri leaders in supporting Schweich, including: Lt. Governor Peter Kinder, former U.S. Senator Jack Danforth, former state Senator Emory Melton, and current State Senators Brad Lager, R-Savannah; Brad Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia; Bill Stouffer, R-Napton; and Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph. 

Kasten said Schweich’s experience makes him the person who can best hold government accountable to the taxpayers as state auditor, “If anything, Tom Schweich is over qualified to be our next State Auditor,” said Kasten. “Please join me in supporting the right man for the job.”

In 2008, Kasten served Missourians as State Representative when elected to represent most of Cape Girardeau County in the Missouri House of Representatives in a special election. Previously, she had served 9 terms as a state representative.

She has resided in Cape Girardeau most of her life, having graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a B.S. in education and raising a family there. She is a former member of the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents. She also served for 20 years on the Cape Girardeau school board and is a former president of the Missouri School Boards Association. She is the founder of the Cape Girardeau Community Caring Council and has been recognized with awards including the Friend of Children award and the Outstanding Women of Achievement award. Kasten retired from the House after the 2008 session.

"Rep. Kasten is a wonderful Missourian who is recognized by many as one of the people who have made Cape Girardeau a great place for families to live,” said Schweich. “She is a tremendous community leader and I am honored by her endorsement and recognition that I bring the investigative experience needed to best protect Missouri taxpayers as their next State Auditor.”

Schweich is a Republican with extensive financial, legal, investigative, audit, and management experience who has consistently advocated conservative financial principles throughout his many national and global roles. He served as deputy director and acting director of the law enforcement division of the State Department, and then as a U.S. Ambassador fighting the drug trade and corruption in Afghanistan while helping the country build its judicial system. He is also a financial author, having written several books including the 2002 Crashproof Your Life: A Comprehensive Three-Part Plan for Avoiding Financial Disasters. In this book, he advocated conservative financial principles for individuals and countries alike.

Schweich is one of two announced Republicans vying for the office of auditor. He lives with his wife, Kathy, and their two children in eastern Missouri.