DANNER HOPES GRASS-ROOTS EFFORT LANDS HIM STATE AUDITOR'S OFFICE

As a first-term state senator from northern Missouri, Steve Danner realizes a lot of Missourians have no idea who he is. He also realizes that most people have given little thought to the state auditor's race Nov. 8.

But Danner is confident that his grass-roots campaign approach will bring positive results when voters focus on whether to re-elect Republican Margaret Kelly or turn to him.

That approach includes acknowledging he is 51 points behind Kelly in name recognition and admitting "I am not known by the general public."

Danner has held a series of fund-raising golf tournaments around the state as a way to meet community leaders, many of them Republicans. He hopes the people he meets share his ideas with their circle of friends.

In the last 30 days, Danner said he raised about $12,000 more than Kelly, although overall the auditor has a much larger war chest. He sees this as an indication people feel it is time for change.

"I think it speaks well for the momentum we are gaining in this campaign," Danner said during his latest visit to Cape Girardeau, his third in six weeks.

"People are tired of gridlock and the fiscal mess in Washington, D.C. They don't want gridlock in state government, and want to see their tax dollars spent wisely in state and local governments," said Danner.

As auditor, Danner said he would change the focus of the office from strictly conducting audits to helping government agencies and local officials comply with the law before audits are made. Danner said audits done by the office have recommendations, but there is no follow-up to help with compliance.

Danner would also use private auditing firms to conduct some of the routine audits of local governmental entities. By using more private firms, Danner said the bureaucracy of the office would be reduced and the backlog of audits reduced.

During the campaign, Danner has frequently criticized Kelly for taking actions that only get her maximum political exposure and headlines.

One example was a letter she wrote recently urging the secretary of state to place the tax provisions of Senate Bill 380 to a statewide vote. In the letter, Kelly said, "I continue to believe that this tax increase has the potential to exceed the constitutional limit on taxes." He said Kelly made similar comments when Bill 380 was debated and passed in 1993, yet offered no firm opinion on whether it violated the Hancock Amendment.

"This was written to extract the maximum political benefit she could get from jumping on the issue," said Danner. "But if she really feels this way, why didn't she file a lawsuit? Why didn't she do something when the legislature passed it a year ago?"

Danner said Kelly's "grandstanding" is something voters are tired of and contributes to gridlock. "That's not the kind of government people want or expect," said Danner.

With Hancock II going on the ballot Nov. 8, Danner said he had no problems letting voters decide the issue.

"As an attorney, I have tried a lot of cases before juries and I have a lot of faith in the people," Danner said. He said officials that are opposed to a vote are just displaying the kind of "arrogance in government" people are tired of.

Danner said he has some constitutional concerns about Hancock II and the fact it will affect 40 percent of the Constitution. But, he said, "If people have the right information, they can make the right decision."