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Nixon will soon have to pick Schweich's successor

Within minutes of the news of Auditor Tom Schweich's death, Gov. Jay Nixon ordered all flags on Missouri property lowered to half-staff.

But the governor will soon have a much bigger decision to make: who to appoint as Schweich's successor.

Missouri law seems to suggest that a decision must be made rapidly:

29.280. When a vacancy occurs in the office of state auditor the governor shall immediately appoint an auditor to fill such vacancy for the residue of the term in which the vacancy occurred, and until his successor is elected or appointed, commissioned and qualified.

No special election is required, and the governor is not required to appoint an auditor from the same political party as the former one. So far, no one in Nixon's office will comment on whom he may be considering to replaceSchweich.

Credit (Marshall Griffin/St. Louis Public Radio)

Schweich was overwhelmingly elected to a second term as state auditor in November and was sworn in last month. He also recently announced his candidacy for Missouri governor.

In a written statement, Nixon calledSchweich "a brilliant, devoted, and accomplished public servant who dedicated his career to making Missouri and the world a better place."

Nixon also attended a brief memorial service Thursday in the Missouri House chamber for Schweich, along with Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, Speaker John Diehl, several House and Senate members, and staff members who work in the State Capitol.

Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter:  @MarshallGReport

Copyright 2015 St. Louis Public Radio

St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.
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