The Journalist's Creed Headlines  NewsBook: MDN headlines   NewsNow: Headlines from across the state  NewsViews: Editorials across the state Stories  Search 2009  Text Search  By Date  By Subject  By Reporter  Blogs  2008  2007  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002  2001  2000  1999  1998  1997  1996  1995 Data 2009  2009 Budget  Registered Lobbyists  Meeting Notices  Bills  House Roster  Senate Roster  Calendars  Supreme Court Dockets  2008  2007  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002  2001  2000  1999  1998  1997  1996  1995 Audio  House Live   Senate Live  MDN Map

Candidates for State Treasurer

	Brad Lager Republican	Clint Zweifel Democrat	Rod Farthing Constitution
Profiles:	Get It	Get It	Get It
Leg. Record:	Get It	Get It
Web Site:	http://www.bradlager.com/	www.clintfortreasurer.com/	http://www.constitutionpartymo.org/rod_farthing.html
Age	33	34	59
Family	Wife: Stephanie Lager Children: daughter Addison	Wife: Janice Children: 2 children, both girls	Wife: Jan Children: Six children, aged 34 to 12 One granddaughter
Education	B.S. in Computer Management Systems from Northwest Missouri State University '97	B.A. in Political Science from University of Missouri - St. Louis in 1996 M.B.A. from University of Missouri - St. Louis in 2001	BA in Bible and Ministry from St. Louis Christian College in Florissant, Mo.
Job History	1997 - 2001: owned several small businesses including Northwest Missouri Cellular where he served as general manager and where he still works off-session. He also owns a car wash and a land development company. 2001: Maryville City Council 2002: State Representative 2006: State Senator	1997 - Present: Research and Education Director for Teamsters Local 688 2002 - 2008: Representative for District 78 in the Missouri State House of Representatives.	2001 - Present: Development Director with American Rehabilitation Ministries 1998-2005: Treasurer of the Alexander Christian Foundation, a Christian scholarship foundation 1995 - Present: Secretary and chairman of the Dent County Salvation Army board 1994 - Present: Senior chaplain with Phelps County Regional Medical Center Hospice 1992: Chairman of "Don't Risk Our Youth," a political movement to prohibit the sale of alcohol in Madisonville, Ky. 1973 - Present: Chairman for Right to Life organizations in each of the states in which he has lived (Texas 1973-1981; Arkansas 1981-1986; Illinois 1986-1989; Kentucky 1989-1993; Missouri 1993 - Present) 1968 - 2001: Minster in the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ
Key Issues	Keeping money in Missouri's banks: Lager wants to keep taxpayers money in the state by investing in Missouri's banks. Lager said he believes this is a good investment for Missouri taxpayers, but will also allow banks to loan out this money and spur local economic development. Advocating for college savings plans: Lager said he wants to improve the existing 529 college savings plan by increasing the amount of funding through public private partnerships. He wants to increase funding for need based scholarships to four times the current rate, leaving students to decide how to spend their money. Fiscal Literacy: Lager said it is the responsibility of the State Treasurer to make sure Missourian's have access to information that would help them make better financial decisions. Serve as a fiscal watchdog: Lager said he will find the most effective, efficient ways to spend taxpayer money while working to reduce waste and fraud from government spending.	Fiscal Responsibility: Zweifel said he would preserve Missouri's AAA Bond rating and keep contracting transparent. Missouri Investors: Zweifel proposes tougher provisions against dishonest brokers and financial advisers.  He advocates special penalties on those who target senior citizens.  Homeownership: Zweifel said he plans to "renew the promise of homeownership" partially through the Missouri Mortgage Assistance Program which would require mortgage brokers to register with the Missouri Mortgage Board and would reduce property taxes for middle class seniors. Higher Education: Zweifel's college tuition plan is called the Missouri Promise.  Based on a bill he sponsored in the legislature, this program would build on the A+ program, covering two years of tuition at a four-year institution for approximately 3,000 students.	Honesty and integrity: Farthing said he will bring integrity, professionalism and efficiency to all the tasks the Missouri treasurer must undertake. Commitment to the U.S. Constitution and Constitution of the State of Missouri Limited government Fiscal responsibility: "Perhaps the office would best be served by an honest "regular" citizen who is able to manage finances well enough to be totally out of debt; who has money in savings after raising six children, with a wife who is a full-time homemaker; who has accomplished this on a preacher's modest salary; and who successfully balances all of his bank accounts each month," Farthing stated in an email. Religious values: Farthing said his religious values of integrity and service will be reflected in his work and principles.
Sources	http://www.bradlager.com/ Lager's Senate Web page Lager interview	www.clintfortreasurer.com/ Zweifel's House Web page The Kansas City Star	Emails from Rod and Jan Farthing