AREA LEGISLATORS AGREE MORIARTY NEEDS TO RESIGN FROM STATE OFFICE

Most Southeast Missouri legislators feel Secretary of State Judi Moriarty should resign.

A Cole County jury found Moriarty guilty early Saturday morning for manipulating election filing paperwork to illegally help her son, Tim Moriarty, file for a Missouri House seat in March.

A defiant Moriarty said Monday: "I stand firm in my decision not to resign."

Although most area legislators have kind words to say about Moriarty as a person, they feel the public has lost confidence in the office.

"She had her just day in court and was found guilty, so I think she should step down," said Rep. Dennis Ziegenhorn, D-Sikeston.

"It is clearly time for her to go," added Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau. "I sympathize with her, but even though it is a misdemeanor it goes to the heart of the discharge of her constitutional duties to administer elections."

Fellow Democrats Gov. Mel Carnahan and Attorney General Jay Nixon have both called on the secretary of state to resign. Nixon has said he will go to court to force Moriarty's ouster.

Moriarty has maintained her innocence and will appeal the conviction. The jury could not agree on a second charge related to election violations, but it could be re-filed later.

But Kinder said with an election upcoming, it is improper to have the state's chief election official under a cloud for election law violations.

House Majority Whip Larry Thomason, D-Kennett, agreed she should quit.

"Someone is innocent until proven guilty, and she has been proven guilty. It is important for her to take the appropriate action, which is to step aside," said Thomason.

Rep. Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau, said a resignation is in order and noted that fellow Democrats are calling for her to quit. She feels Morarity has lost a lot of credibility.

Both Kasten and Thomason said they hoped she would step down before impeachment or legal proceedings are brought to oust her. Any proceedings would require bipartisan support.

Said Thomason: "Like anyone, when something like this happens you are in a state of shock and it takes a day or two of calming down to figure out the proper course of action. Sometimes, your proper action is not what your heart tells you to do. I fully expect her to resign this week."

Sen. Jerry Howard, D-Dexter, said the whole situation is unfortunate, but quickly added, "the longer she stays in office the more negative the effect will be on Democratic officeholders and prospective officeholders."

Rep. Marilyn Williams, D-Dudley, and Sen. Danny Staples, D-Eminence, stopped short of calling on Moriarty to quit.

"I don't feel qualified to judge what she did. All I know is hearsay," said Williams. "Judi is a very good person. I think she got thrown into a position she was not quite ready for."

Staples maintained that Moriarty should have a chance to exhaust the appeals process before having to face resignation.

"Some House members are talking about impeachment, and they have that power," said Staples. "But if they impeach her and she appeals and wins, what happens then?"