Thomas says state auditor's job not political 'stepping stone'

Missouri's state auditor post has seemingly been a jumping-off point for politicians like former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, U.S. Sen. Kit Bond and even current auditor Claire McCaskill, who is running for the U.S. Senate.

But Sandra Thomas, the Republican state auditor candidate who was in Cape Girardeau Thursday, said that's not the case for her.

"For me this is not a stepping stone," Thomas said. "I want to take the politics out of it."

Thomas is the Republican candidate facing Democrat Susan Montee in Tuesday's election. Thomas is the auditor in Platte County, and Montee is auditor in Buchanan County, both of which are in the western part of the state. Both are accountants.

Thomas spoke at Southeast Missouri State University Thursday morning at a Republican rally. Thomas said the auditor's office needs a comprehensive review, examine funds generated by casinos to make sure the money is going toward education and that state courts need to be audited.

But she stressed being politically independent, pointing out that Montee sits on the state Democratic Party's executive committee.

"It's important that the state auditor is independent," she said. "This office is the watchdog of the taxpayers' dollars."