© 2024 St. Louis Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Mo. gov. candidate Spence omits part of college degree

Dave Spence.
(Provided by Alpha Packaging)
Dave Spence.

Missouri gubernatorial candidate Dave Spence touts on his website that he "earned a degree in Economics" from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

What his website doesn't say is that the degree was in home economics.

Spence told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for a story published online Tuesday that his grades weren't good enough for the business school, so he chose a different academic path that allowed him to graduate on time. He acknowledged that the description of his degree on the campaign's website may be misleading.

Spence is seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon in this year's election. His campaign has emphasized his business expertise. Spence owned a plastic container company called Alpha Packaging before selling it in 2010 and recently stepping aside as its leader.