Several days ago, the Senate received word that State Auditor Tom Schweich, 54, had died, leaving behind his wife, Katherine, and two children. The news was tragic and heart-wrenching. Legislators and Capitol staff gathered in the House Chamber that afternoon to send our thoughts and prayers to the Schweich family.

State Auditor Tom Schweich was elected in 2008, and easily won re-election in 2014. He was one of the best auditors the state has seen. He was judicious, fair and honest, valuable traits in any person, particularly for an auditor. He abided by a strict set of ethics, and held himself to a standard of remarkable decency. Auditor Schweich was a true servant of the public. His diligent work uncovered countless misuses of taxpayer funds, and helped make our state more efficient and effective.

His future was promising. Last month, he kicked off his campaign for governor, focused on rooting out corruption in the Capitol. As often happens in present campaigns, the attack ads swiftly began. While we do not know why Auditor Schweich chose to take his own life, many have pointed to the current negative state of politics and campaigns as a contributing factor. We’ll never really know.

Public service, especially at the state and local level, is a sacrifice. The majority of men and women who enter office do so hoping to make a difference. Yet those noble goals are consistently affected by a political atmosphere that is cruel, relentless and increasingly personal, largely due to highly paid political consultants, anonymous donor groups and enormous campaign contributions that fund the ongoing cycle.

Senators and staff, members of the House, the governor, and other statewide officials gathered for Auditor Schweich’s funeral. During the ceremony, former U.S Senator John Danforth gave a moving eulogy, and said:

"…Since Thursday, some good people have said, 'Well that’s just politics.' And Tom should have been less sensitive; he should have been tougher, and he should have been able to take it. Well, that is accepting politics in its present state and that we cannot do. It amounts to blaming the victim, and it creates a new normal, where politics is only for the tough and the crude and the calloused. Indeed, if this is what politics has become, what decent person would want to get into it? We should encourage normal people — yes, sensitive people — to seek public office, not drive them away…

The campaign that led to the death of Tom Schweich was the low point of politics, and now it’s time to turn this around. So let’s make Tom’s death a turning point here in our state.

We will see bullies for who they are. We will no longer let them hide behind their anonymous pseudo-committees. We will not accept their way as the way of politics. We will stand up to them and we will defeat them. This will be our memorial to Tom: that politics as it now exists must end, and we will end it.”

I believe these are credible points worth debating. There is no doubt that politics has drastically changed over the last decade. In a fast-paced world of quick sound-bites, catchy phrases and flashy graphics, an official or candidates’ political stances increasingly matter less than the latest Tweet, flub or viral video.

We’ve traded a noble human enterprise—average, democratic citizens willing to undertake the burdensome task of running for office—for cheap, and malicious, theatrics. Elected officials are real human beings, who expose their lives, and those of their families, to damaging campaigns, often full of unsubstantiated criticisms, unfair attacks, and distorted facts, in the hopes of winning office. Such a worthy endeavor shouldn’t fall victim to our worst impulses.  

As legislators, we need to have a discussion if campaign politics played a role in this tragedy. However, that is for another time. Right now, my thoughts and prayers go out to the Schweich family, whose pain I can’t even begin to comprehend. Missouri lost an excellent elected official, an honorable citizen and a good man, which there are far too few of these days. Discussion will come soon. Now is a time for mourning. 

As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 866-277-0882 (toll-free) or (573) 751-2272, or by fax at (573) 526-7381.