Jefferson City News Tribune - Online Edition
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Posted: Wednesday, Oct 19, 2005 - 12:20:54 am CDT

COLEMAN TO RUN FOR STATE AUDITOR

By DAVID A. LIEB
AP Political Writer


Missouri Senate Minority Leader Maida Coleman said Tuesday she is running for state auditor, ensuring Democrats will have a contested primary in the race to replace incumbent Claire McCaskill.

Coleman, 51, of St. Louis, has not formed a campaign committee and so far has reported raising no money for the auditor's race.

“I've decided that I am running,” Coleman said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I just haven't decided when I'm making the (official) announcement.”

Coleman is the second Democrat to enter the race. Buchanan County Auditor Susan Montee, 46, announced her candidacy last month and immediately put $500,000 of her own money into the campaign - a commitment intended partly to demonstrate her seriousness to potential rivals.

But Coleman said she was undeterred and pledged to have an “impressive” campaign account when finance reports are next due to the Missouri Ethics Commission in January.

“This isn't a race to see who can announce first; this is an opportunity for the people of Missouri to determine who will best represent them, and I will be prepared to represent them well,” Coleman said.

Prevented by term limits from seeking re-election to the Senate, Coleman already has closed her legislative campaign account. So far, Coleman said she has been accumulating pledges - not cash - for her auditor's race, which is why she didn't file an Ethics Commission report due Monday for the past quarter.

McCaskill, also a Democrat, is challenging Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Talent in 2006 instead of seeking re-election.

Two Republicans also have already entered the auditor's race - state Rep. Jack Jackson, of Wildwood, and state Sen. John Loudon, of Ballwin.

Coleman, a Sikeston native, was elected in 2000 to a St. Louis seat in the House of Representatives. But before her first term even ended, Coleman won a February 2002 special election for a Senate seat left vacant by the death of Paula Carter. Coleman easily won re-election last year and was selected by Democratic colleagues as their Senate leader.

Montee said Coleman's entry into the race wouldn't change her strategy of campaigning across rural Missouri and stressing her experience.

“I have a lot of respect for Sen. Coleman. I think she's a good leader for our party, but it really doesn't affect how I'm running this race,” Montee said. “There are certain qualifications needed in the state auditor's office. We believe you should have advance training, whether it is as an attorney or CPA, and I have both.”

Coleman has a journalism degree from Lincoln University in Jefferson City and previously worked for the secretary of state's office and St. Louis Housing Authority.

Jefferson City News Tribune - Online Edition
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Posted: Tuesday, Oct 04, 2005 - 05:14:56 am CDT

McCASKILL DECLINES TO ENDORSE ANYONE TO SUCCEED HER

By The Associated Press

Missouri State Auditor Claire McCaskill said Monday she is not endorsing anyone in the race to take over her job.

McCaskill, a Democrat, announced in late August that she would challenge U.S. Sen. Jim Talent, a Republican, rather than seek re-election as auditor in 2006.

Only one Democrat has committed to the race so far - Buchanan County Auditor Susan Montee, who said she would kick-start her campaign with $500,000 of her own money. Montee supported McCaskill's failed bid for governor last year.

Democratic state Sen. Maida Coleman, of St. Louis, has said she is "very strongly" considering the auditor's race. Former Democratic Rep. Jason Klumb, now an assistant attorney general, also has been considering the race but said after Montee's announcement that her personal financial commitment diminished his chances.

Two suburban St. Louis Republicans - state Rep. Jack Jackson, of Wildwood, and state Sen. John Loudon, of Ballwin - already have said they are running for state auditor. House Speaker Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill, also is considering the race.

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Jefferson City News Tribune, Online Edition

Posted: Wednesday, Nov 30, 2005 - 08:12:17 pm CST

COLEMAN ANNOUNCES RUN FOR STATE AUDITOR

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Downplaying her past personal financial problems, state Sen. Maida Coleman said Tuesday that she would apply hard life lessons if elected as state auditor.

Coleman, a Democrat from St. Louis, kicked off her campaign for auditor at a hometown news conference by saying the decision followed a "long journey," including preparing her family to have "all our laundry exposed to the world."

Flanked by clergy and elected city and state officials, Coleman announced: "It is my intention to become Missouri's next state auditor."

Coleman already had stated her intention to run and had organized an election committee, but Tuesday's announcement made it official. The job is now held by fellow Democrat Claire McCaskill, who is challenging Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Talent in next year's election.

Coleman's announcement came two weeks after the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that she had filed for bankruptcy in 1998.

Coleman on Tuesday acknowledged that her finances were a "mess" at the time, but said that life experience would make her even more vigilant with state dollars.

"The state of Missouri is in a critical time, with budget shortfalls," she said. "My experiences in life have taught me to weather storms. This state is in a storm."

She said she was hosting the first of two fundraisers this week, adding: "This is not a self-funded campaign. We're making every penny count."

Coleman, 51, is the second Democrat to officially enter the race. Buchanan County Auditor Susan Montee, 46, announced her candidacy in September and immediately put $500,000 of her own money into the campaign -- a commitment intended partly to demonstrate her seriousness to potential rivals.

Two Republicans also have already entered the auditor's race -- state Rep. Jack Jackson, of Wildwood, and state Sen. John Loudon, of Ballwin.

Coleman, a Sikeston native, was elected in 2000 to a St. Louis seat in the House of Representatives.

But before her first term even ended, Coleman won a February 2002 special election for a Senate seat left vacant by the death of Paula Carter.

Coleman easily won re-election last year and was selected by Democratic colleagues as their Senate leader.

Coleman doesn't have any auditing experience, but noted she doesn't need an accounting degree for the auditor's job.

"This is an elected position," she said. "You lead. I won't be in some cubicle taking away employees' jobs."

Coleman has a journalism degree from Lincoln University in Jefferson City and previously worked for the secretary of state's office and St. Louis Housing Authority.

The Post-Dispatch reported that after being fired from her job with the Housing Authority in 1998, Coleman filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection, which allows debtors to restructure their debts and keep their homes.

Coleman voluntarily withdrew from the bankruptcy in 1998 after agreeing to sell her St. Louis home for $122,000.

Two lending agencies later sued her for a combined $11,196 over debts that were included but not resolved in the bankruptcy.

Two years ago, St. Anthony's Credit Union sued for $4,026 owed on a car loan. In an earlier suit, Commerce Bank sought $7,170 that Coleman says stemmed from credit car debt.

In September, Commerce received a court order to seize $1,178 from Coleman's account at another bank. Coleman said she had thought the Commerce debt had been settled and provided copies of two letters indicating she tried through an attorney to reach a settlement. An attorney for Commerce Bank declined comment.

Coleman has said the problems stemmed from a year when she was between jobs.

She said two of her three children were in college during the time she was without a job and that she filed for bankruptcy rather than ask for help from friends and family.