Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem Shane Schoeller (R-Willard) has announced he is going to run for Secretary of State in 2012. Schoeller says he has gotten a lot of support, despite running against some Senate Republicans.
He says he doesn’t see it so much as running against someone else, but running for the job. He says he wouldn’t be running if he didn’t think he was the most qualified for the job.
He says his experience with working in the Secretary of State’s office when Matt Blunt was Secretary of State will give him an advantage. He says he will be focusing on fair elections and making sure the office is open and helpful to new businesses.
Current Secretary of State Robin Carnahan has announced she will not be seeking re-election, but Carnahan says Schoeller’s bill to eliminate the presidential primary is not good election policy. Schoeller says it’s the best option right now, because it saves the state money. He says if the primary could have been moved it would have been the best option, but because the Republicans are having a caucus, it’s just a straw poll. He says by having the caucus and not losing the delegates, the voices of those who do choose to participate are amplified.
(AUDIO) Allison Blood reports. Mp3 [1:02]
