By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Missouri State Treasurer Vivek Malek, appointed to the office last year by Gov. Mike Parson, has announced his candidacy to win the office in his own right.
Malek, during a campaign stop at the Buchanan County Courthouse, says his life story will play a major role in his race. Malek came to Missouri from India to study at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. He says his life story demonstrates the opportunities America offers.
“And all I say is if a person like me who can come from a different country 22 years ago, work hard, get an education, and succeed, the sky is the limit for anybody,” Malek tells reporters during his stop in St. Jospeh. “All you need to do is make sure that you’re determined, you get an education, and work hard.”
Malek now is married with three children.
Malek says he will run on three “P’s”: protecting tax dollars, providing opportunity, and promoting the promise of America.
This is Malek’s first political campaign.
“This is my first time I’ll be running for a political office,” Malek says. “I have never been in politics before. I’m not a career politician, just like my other opponents are who have served their time in the legislature and are terming out from the House and the Senate.”
That includes Missouri House Budget Committee chair, Rep. Cody Smith of Carthage; State Sen. Andrew Koenig of Manchester; Lori Rook, an attorney from Springfield; and Karan Pujji of Berkeley, a former candidate for the Missouri House, have all filed as Republicans.
A former state representative candidate from St. Joseph, Tina Goodrick, has also filed as a Republican for state Treasurer.
Mark Osmack of Manchester, a former Congressional candidate, has filed as a Democrat.
John A Hartwig, Jr. of Clayton, a former candidate for state Auditor, is a Libertarian candidate for the office.
Malek says he isn’t worried about the crowded field for the office he now holds.
“My friends, I love doing this job. It is my American dream come true,” Malek says. “My opponents are running to get the job. I’m running to do the job.”
Malek touts his accomplishments in office, which includes the MoScholars program that provides scholarships for students to attend private schools as well as MO BUCKS, the low-interest loan program for farmers and small business owners.
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