JEFFERSON CITY 鈥 State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick, a former chairman of the House Budget Committee, will run for auditor in 2022.
Fitzpatrick, a Republican, is seeking the higher-profile office after Auditor Nicole Galloway announced she will not seek reelection as Missouri鈥檚 lone Democratic statewide officeholder.
鈥淢issouri needs an auditor that will be a conservative watchdog for taxpayers,鈥 Fitzpatrick said.
鈥淎s a business owner, I learned that watching how every dollar is spent is critically important to long-term success,鈥 he added. 鈥淎s auditor, I will watch over your money as if it were my own. In an era of unprecedented stimulus spending at all levels of government, this job has never been more important to the public.鈥
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Fitzpatrick, a 33-year-old Cassville resident, could face a primary challenge from Rep. , R-Sunset Hills, who last year signaled he may seek the position.
Fitzpatrick, who began serving in the House in 2013, was appointed treasurer by Gov. Mike Parson in 2018 when the post became vacant after Eric Schmitt was appointed attorney general.
Fitzpatrick won a full four-year term in 2020, beating former Rep. Vicki Englund, a south St. Louis Democrat, by a 59-38 margin.
The treasurer鈥檚 office oversees dozens of state bank accounts, manages $1 billion in unclaimed private propert, and administers programs aimed at helping small businesses, farmers and people with disabilities grow their own bank accounts.
In recent months, Fitzpatrick has led efforts to reform the state鈥檚 low-income housing tax credit program.
The auditor鈥檚 office, by contrast, is responsible for serving as the state鈥檚 chief fiscal regulator, conducting financial and performance audits for approximately 200 state agencies, boards and commissions as well as the state鈥檚 judicial branch.
Fitzpatrick enters the race with an estimated $350,000 in his campaign account after he contributed $250,000 to himself on Thursday. Records show in May he paid Victory Enterprises $5,500 for polling services in anticipation of seeking the seat.
Gregory, an attorney, was first elected to the 96th House District in 2016 and won election to his third term last year, beating Democrat Erica Hoffman.
Gregory earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in accounting, master鈥檚 in business administration and a law degree from St. Louis University, according to his website.
Fitzpatrick earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree from University of Missouri.
Fitzpatrick is the CEO of MariCorp US, a marine manufacturing and construction company based in Shell Knob, Missouri. He and his wife, Mallory, have twin sons, Luke and Carson.
鈥淚 started a small company in high school and grew it from my dorm room at Mizzou. With a lot of hard work and the help of great team members, we were able to build that small business into an industry leader with successful projects all across the United States,鈥 Fitzpatrick said. 鈥淢issouri families need leaders who have a record of delivering results for taxpayers and who will hold bureaucrats accountable for how they spend your hard-earned tax dollars.鈥
Galloway lost to Parson in the November 2020 election for governor by a 17-point margin.