Curtman meet and greet/fundraiser in Kennett

Paul Curtman made a stop in the bootheel on Thursday at a meet and greet/ fundraiser held at the Kennett Country Club.

Curtman is seeking the Republican nomination for State Auditor.

Curtman began his journey in politics when he joined the marines in 1999.

“I joined the marine corp when I was seventeen,” said Curtman. “I was in an infantry unit. Before long I became an infantry squad leader.”

Curtman obtained the rank of Sergeant and spent four years on active duty and then six years in the reserves.

After obtaining a degree in political science from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Curtman got a job as a financial adviser at a major investment firm.

Curtman stated his interest in politics increased after his years in service.

“It made me sensitive to what our government was up to,” he said. “I had a set of principles I believed in and I got involved locally in town hall meetings.”

Curtman continued, “Folks asked me to run for office. I’m a Christian so I prayed about it. I was working finance at the time and went out and knocked on about 30,000 doors with a few folks that were teachers. They gave me their summer and we won.”

Curtman went to work in Jefferson City as a State Representative, chaired the Committee on Downsizing State Government and is currently the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means.

Curtman believes he will bring leadership to the State Auditor’s office.

“We have had auditors who have all the qualifications in the world and all kinds of letters behind their names,” said Curtman. “But if they’re not a leader then that means the auditor’s office is just as wasteful as any other government department, agency, or bureaucracy.”

“Everything rises and falls on leadership,” stated Curtman. “Whether it’s a conversation between two people or business or finances of the state. The office has to have leadership.”