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Meet the statewide candidates

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.