AUDITOR CANDIDATE CITES QUALIFICATIONS

Republican Chuck Pierce says voters want an independent-minded, certified public accountant as state auditor.

Pierce, who is Missouri's deputy state auditor, is seeking to succeed his boss, Auditor Margaret Kelly. Kelly, a Republican, has announced she won't run for another term this fall.

Pierce touted his qualifications and experience during a visit Wednesday to Cape Girardeau.

"I am a bargain for the taxpayers," he said. "There is no on-the-job training needed."

Pierce, 39, was born in Cape Girardeau. The family moved to Gideon when he was a child. Pierce grew up in Gideon.

Pierce began his career in the state auditor's office in 1981. He was promoted to deputy state auditor in 1993.

As an audit manager in the early 1980s, he supervised a massive state audit of St. Louis that uncovered numerous financial irregularities. He also has supervised audits of the Kansas City and St. Louis desegregation programs.

Pierce said he has supervised the issuance of some 600 audits of state agencies, cities, school districts and other taxing entities. The audits pointed out more than $200 million in questionable expenditures and more than $1.5 million in outright theft of public tax dollars, he said.

Pierce said he wants to improve the role of the auditor's office as a watchdog agency for the taxpayers.

"We will do all we can to fight for Missouri taxpayers," he said.

Pierce said he wants the auditor's office to do more performance audits of government programs such as the recent audit of Missouri's road improvements program.

Pierce opposes legislation in the Missouri General Assembly that would require the auditor to obtain approval of both the House and Senate to conduct certain audits of state agencies.

He said such a procedure would take away the independence of the auditor's office. He also said the process would give agencies time to "clean up their act" before auditors arrive.

Pierce's wife, Denise, is a certified public accountant. They have four children. The Pierces live in Jefferson City.