Carnahan brings state campaign to Cape

Missouri secretary of state candidate Robin Carnahan told those in attendance at the Cape Girardeau Senior Center on Monday that she wants an end to what she sees as an atmosphere of partisan bickering in Jefferson City and focus on addressing serious issues like voting reform.

Speaking before a group of 24 people at the senior center, the Democratic candidate outlined her plans for the office of secretary of state.

Foremost in her plans is voting reform to ensure that Missouri meets the federal guidelines of the Help America Vote Act passed by Congress in November 2002.

"As secretary of state I want to make sure everyone who is an eligible voter is allowed to vote," Carnahan said. One way in which to do this, she said, is to allow for early voting statewide.

"I think times have changed," she said. "People are busy and need more flexibility."

Another priority would be phasing out punch-card ballots, which were responsible for some of the voting problems Florida during the last presidential election.

"Sixty percent of people in the state still use punch cards," Carnahan said.

Carnahan, a practicing lawyer, said she has a unique background in election reform, having helped rewrite Eastern European voting laws in 1990 after the fall of communism through her role in the National Democratic Institute. She has also worked as an elections lawyer in Missouri.

In addition to overseeing elections, the Missouri secretary of state is also responsible for regulating securities laws and registering businesses in the state -- responsibilities Carnahan addressed in her discussion.

Carnahan said she would work to streamline the secretary of state's Web site to make it more accessible for small business owners. "There's a lot of information out there but it's not laid out in user-friendly way," she said.

As the manager of her family's 800-acre cattle farm near Rolla, Mo., Carnahan said she is one of those business owners.

Part of her plan to address securities fraud in Missouri would include the development of a senior fraud unit "to get people to understand what these possible scams are before they get underway."

Carnahan faces Republican challenger and House Speaker Catherine Hanaway in the November election.

Carnahan said two things set her apart from Hanaway -- her experience and background and her leadership style.

"In the secretary of state's office it's more important to have real world experience. It's about getting things done," Carnahan said.

Although she has never held a public office before, Carnahan is no stranger to politics as she is the daughter of the late Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan and former Sen. Jean Carnahan.

"My mother says it's a genetic defect," Carnahan said of running for public office. Joking aside, Carnahan does think her family upbringing gives her a different perspective on running for office.

"I grew up in a family where they thought of public service as a good and noble thing," she said. Carnahan said she sees serving in public office first and foremost as a way to help your community.

kalfisi@semissourian.com

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