OUTSIDERS SELECTED BEFORE, BUT NOT OFTEN

Cape Girardeau attorney Rebecca Cook, a political unknown chosen by Gov. Mel Carnahan Friday to fill a vacancy as secretary of state, is not the first person appointed to statewide office few Missourians had heard of.

The last time there was a midterm vacancy for a state office was in May 1984. James Antonio, a Republican, resigned as state auditor to take a job in another state.

Gov. Christopher Bond, looking for someone with the credentials to keep what was recognized as a well-run professional office in good condition, turned to Margaret Kelly of Jefferson City.

He was also hoping to find a woman, to break a gender gap in statewide offices.

Until her election as Cole County auditor 18 months earlier, Kelly had not sought public office. She and her husband had only worked behind the scenes for Republican candidates, including Bond.

Kelly, a CPA with 20 years experience working in several accounting firms, was in much the same position that Cook is in.

Not only does she have to manage a large staff and fulfill the constitutional duties of one of six statewide offices, but must also begin building a political base for which to run for a full term in 1996.

Kelly was quite successful building a political base and was elected to a full four-year term in 1986, and re-elected in 1990 and 1994 by wide margins. In 1992 she narrowly lost a bid to become lieutenant governor, and is considered one of the top Republican candidates for governor in 1996.

Kelly assumed her job as an unknown with two distinct advantages that Cook does not have.

Kelly was appointed seven months earlier in the term than Cook was, and the office she took over was running smoothly.

The office Cook took over Friday morning has been drawing headlines across the state for months, with allegations of mismanagement and incompetent staff during the administration of Democrat Judith Moriarty.

Last week the Missouri Supreme Court ousted Moriarty following an impeachment trial because she backdated filing documents for her son who wanted to run for state representative.

Cook's actions to make changes in the operations of the secretary of state's office will be closely watched. If she does well, that should give her some notoriety and help her efforts to build a solid base for a campaign in 1996.

Another advantage Kelly had is that she already lived in Jefferson City. Cook and her family have the added task of relocating closer to the state capital.

Two other vacancies in statewide offices in recent times also were in the auditor's office.

In 1977, Democrat George Lehr resigned with nearly two years left in his term. Democratic Gov. Joe Teasdale ignored encouragement from party leaders to appoint a prominent figure who would be a viable candidate in 1978 so the job would remain in Democratic hands.

Teasdale turned to Thomas M. Keyes, a 63-year old political unknown from Kansas City. Keyes said he planned to run for the job, but soon decided the campaign trail was not for him and withdrew.

Not only did Keyes not run, but as auditor he endorsed Republican Jim Antonio against the Democratic nominee, former Gov. Warren Hearnes.

In 1972, following his election as governor, Bond did not squander his opportunity to name a promising GOP star to succeed him as auditor. Bond turned to John Ashcroft, an assistant attorney general who had just lost a close race for Congress.

In 1974, Ashcroft was narrowly defeated by Lehr for auditor, but came back in 1976 to win the attorney general's office. After eight years in that job and eight years as governor, Ashcroft was elected in November by Missouri voters to join Bond in the U.S. Senate.