PEOPLE DIFFER ON FATE OF SECRETARY OF STATE

While Secretary of State Judi Moriarty says her conviction was nothing worse than running a stop sign, Missouri House leaders say she should resign or be impeached.

House action against Moriarty began Thursday afternoon, with Missourians watching to see if Moriarty will stand firm.

She is awaiting sentencing on her Sept. 10 conviction in Cole County Circuit Court, where she was found guilty of backdating her son's election filing in his bid for the Missouri House.

Several Missourians interviewed Thursday at the West Park Mall think she should resign.

Michelle Capps of Cape Girardeau is one of them.

"I don't see how staying can be the right thing to do," Capps said, adding that ~it is evident she's guilty. ~

Capps believes Moriarty should resign.

"It's not doing anyone any good for her to prolong it," Capps said. "It's not as though she's going to be re-elected."

But, if she doesn't resign, Capps thinks impeachment would be a lesson for other politicians.

Kelso resident Lara Christie seemed incredulous that Moriarty doesn't intend to resign.

"I think she is really being ridiculous," Christie said. "I haven't heard her even refute any of the allegations against her."~

Cape Girardeau native Paul Lynch, who has followed Moriarty's case, thinks her problems are because she has taken advantage of her position.

He looks forward to her impeachment and said he no longer trusts her as secretary of state.

Chris Illers of Jackson agreed.

~"All I know is that she was found guilty," he said. ~"If she was found guilty, she should probably step down."

If she doesn't, the legislature has no choice but to impeach her, he added.

Mary Griffith of Sikeston said Moriarty deserves to be impeached.

A Southern Illinois University law student, Griffith, said Moriarty "doesn't have the same sense of responsibility" about her job as other officeholders.

Some area residents were easier on Moriarty. Amy McClarney of Olive Branch took a middle-of-the-road view. She said that, while she believes impeachment is too harsh, Moriarty should have resigned.

However, McClarney suggested the secretary of state may have good reasons for refusing to step down.

Two Missourians from far outside the area took sides with Moriarty. Mike Jones of St. Charles visited Cape Girardeau Thursday and expressed surprise that the governor and House were being so harsh.

Jones thinks Moriarty should be reprimanded but doesn't know to what degree.

"Obviously, she did commit a misdemeanor," he said. ~

Jones sees the issue as political, saying Gov. Carnahan is trying to clean house and doesn't want the repercussions of keeping Moriarty for political reasons.

"What she did doesn't reflect on her overall ability to do her job," Jones said. "She's just being sacrificed."

Osage Beach resident Tracy Brotherton supports Moriarty's decision to resist resignation and is comfortable with Moriarty keeping her job.

"There are a lot of other political leaders with her status who do much worse and never get caught," Brotherton said. ~

If she fulfills her duties, Brotherton said, she should be reprimanded "but not necessarily impeached.

If impeached, Moriarty will be the first statewide officeholder to lose her job through impeachment.