This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon: August 1, 2008 - The Democratic Candidates: Attorney General
Name: Margaret Donnelly
Home: Richmond Heights
Age: 54
Experience: School social worker; Ferguson-Florissant school board 1986-92; state representative, 2002 to present; and private law practice, 20 years of trial experience, during which she often defended victims of sexual assault and domestically abused wives.
Issues: consumer product safety, especially for products that could harm children; strict screening of school employees to prevent predators; formation of a unit within the attorney general's office to keep track of sexual violence; preventing internet criminal activities.
Money raised: more than $1 million
For more info: www.donnellyforattorneygeneral.com
Name: Chris Koster
Home: Harrisonville, south of Kansas City
Age: 43
Experience: Assistant attorney general under William Webster, 1991-95; Cass County prosecuting attorney 1994-2004; state senator representing the 31st district, 2004 to present; and private practice.
Issues: Left the Republican Party because of his support for stem-cell research; has a bill pending to eliminate paternity fraud; enforcement of the wage law; cooperation with law enforcement, consumer protection, workers' rights, and environmental law.
Money raised: more than $2.2 million
For more info: www.chriskoster.com
Name: Jeff Harris
Home: Columbia
Age: 43
Experience: Assistant attorney general under Jay Nixon; state representative for the 23rd district from 2002 to present; minority floor leader; and private practice
Issues: Harris' ads attack Koster's support some of President George W. Bush's policies and his 2007 party switch; supports the Sunshine Law; examine confined animal feeding operations;l focus on senior citizens' rights, education, and health care.
Money raised: more than $800,000
For more info: www.electjeffharris.com
The Democratic Candidates: Treasurer
Name: Mark Powell
Home: Arnold
Age: 57
Experience: Arnold mayor; banker for 24 years
Issues: The treasurer's job is to "balance the checkbook, pay the bills, and invest the state's money"; ethical conduct.
Money raised: more than $43,000
For more info: mayorpowell.com
Name: Andria Simckes
Home: Creve Coeur
Age: 37
Experience: Economic development aide to the late Gov. Mel Carnahan; headed St. Louis' Regional Empowerment Zone; led initiatives for the Missouri Department for Economic Initiatives; lawyer
Issues: making college and housing affordable, helping hospitals better serve their communities and promoting financial fluency to help prevent citizens from defaulting on loans.
Money raised: more than $109,000
For more info: www.simckesfortreasurer.com
Name: Dr. Charles Wheeler
Home: Kansas City
Age: 81
Experience: Pathologist trained in crime scene investigation; two-term mayor of Kansas City; former Jackson County coroner; district judge of Jackson County Court; state senator for 10th District
Issues: managing the state's investment portfolio, expanding state tax credits, environmental responsibility and Missouri's college savings plan.
Money raised: more than $13,000
For more info: wheelerfortreasurer.com
Name: Rep. Clint Zweifel
Home: Florissant
Age: 34
Experience: Teamsters research and education director; state representative of 78th District since 2002
Issues: homeowner protection, protecting retirement and investor security, and decreasing college tuition; will work to keep "taxes and inflation in check."
Money raised: more than $475,000
For more info: www.clintfortreasurer.org
Joy Resmovits is an intern at the Beacon and a rising jurnior at Barnard College.