Here’s what to know about Missouri candidates for state auditor on your Nov. 8 ballot

Missouri voters will have the chance to cast a ballot on Nov. 8, or earlier — anyone can vote in-person absentee for this election starting on Oct. 25. Voters will decide on five ballot questions and numerous races from the federal down to the county level of government.

Below are links to candidates’ responses to The Star’s survey from those running for state auditor.

And here is a link to all of the Missouri races on the ballot for voters around Kansas City.

If you’re not sure, you can look up your voter information to see which district you live in, and where your polling site is.

How the voter guide works:

Click on the race you are curious about, and you’ll go to a page with candidates’ responses. There, you can use the jump menu to get to a specific race or district.

Any candidates that do not have answers below their names did not respond to the survey. Our team at The Star contacted campaigns multiple times via both email and phone calls over the past month.

If you are a candidate and would like to get in touch with us and submit responses still, you can email us at kcq@kcstar.com. Voters will continue using this tool all the way through election day.

A note on editing and fact-checking

Some survey responses were very lightly edited for grammar, but the substance of the responses were not edited at all and are the candidates’ own words. The Star did not fact-check all of the candidates’ responses.

If you are concerned about misinformation or would like to learn more about some of the issues referenced in candidates’ responses, we wanted to include this past story about how to spot misinformation: How to tell if a politician is lying? A scholar who studies what they say has some advice.

Scott Fitzpatrick, Republican

After numerous attempts to contact via email and phone over a span of more than two weeks, Scott Fitzpatrick did not respond to The Star’s request to complete the candidate survey.

Campaign website: www.scottfitzpatrick.com

Alan Green, Democrat

What is something you would do differently than the current state auditor Nicole Galloway?

As the next auditor for the State of Missouri, I will work to expand and strengthen Missouri’s “whistle blower” law, increase the exposure of the auditor’s office by visiting each of Missouri’s counties, and make sure that the staff of the office is qualified and representative of all Missourians.

What is one way that Missouri is overspending or under utilizing its resources that you would prioritize?

Missouri is last in the nation in starting teachers’ pay, our health care delivery system ranks near the bottom nationally (this is particularly troubling for outstate Missourians), our services to seniors and social services is extraordinarily lacking. The state’s current leadership focuses too much on political gimmicks and not focusing on improving the overall quality of life for all Missourians.

Do you believe that the 2020 presidential election was fairly decided and that Joe Biden is the legitimate president, and do you condemn the Jan. 6 insurrection?

I do believe that the 2020 presidential election was fairly decided (including in Missouri) and that Joe Biden was legally elected president. The events in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6 were an abomination and a stain on this country’s history.

Why do you want to be auditor specifically, and do you plan to run for other offices in the future?

The auditor is supposed to be an independent watchdog whose role is to protect public tax dollars and warrant that our government is operating in a manner that meets the highest standards. By virtue of my qualification, five degrees including two master’s and a Ph.D., having served 7 years in the Missouri House, being a CFO of a statewide organization, a former department head of a Missouri state agency, advising two county executives, owning my own business and a former police officer I am highly extremely qualified and prepared to be auditor. Missouri needs an independent watchdog, particularly when Republicans control all but one of the statewide offices. I am that watchdog.

Campaign website: alankgreen.com

John A. Hartwig, Jr., Libertarian

What is something you would do differently than the current state auditor Nicole Galloway?

From all indications, the current auditor, a CPA, is doing a fine job but has elected not to run for reelection. Until I arrive in the office and evaluate the current priorities that are assigned to the various audits, I cannot further intelligently comment on this question. I would also increase efforts to receive more tips from the citizens on the wasteful practices that they have observed and follow up with an audit!

What is one way that Missouri is overspending or under utilizing its resources that you would prioritize?

As an example, judging solely by the sample ballots I recently received from the various counties, all counties are not utilizing the lowest postal rates on their correspondence.

Do you believe that the 2020 presidential election was fairly decided and that Joe Biden is the legitimate president, and do you condemn the Jan. 6 insurrection?

Yes, Joe Biden is our legitimate president. There was no “stolen” election!

Why do you want to be auditor specifically, and do you plan to run for other offices in the future?

I believe my professional qualifications make me ideally suited for the Missouri state auditor’s position, and I thought that, after a many years in public practice, it would be good to give back some time for public service. I promise to seek only one current four-year term as auditor and will promise not to use this office as a stepping stone to another office (like other candidates). I trust I can then persuade some other CPA to run for this office in four years!

Campaign website: jhartwigcpa.com

This story was originally published October 20, 2022 at 7:00 AM.