Aide to Lt. Gov. placed on leave

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- An aide for Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder has been placed on unpaid leave for using a Tour of Missouri e-mail account to send an invitation for a state House candidate's political fundraiser.

Kinder's office said Deputy Lt. Gov. Jerry Dowell started a five-day unpaid leave Tuesday. Dowell also serves as the executive director for the Tour of Missouri bicycle race.

Kinder's office says Dowell accidentally used the Tour of Missouri account to send an e-mail about the political fundraiser during his lunch hour Monday. A lieutenant governor spokesman said a recipient of the e-mail alerted the office of the invitation.

Dowell was placed on the unpaid leave by Kinder's chief of staff Rich AuBuchon.