St. Louis Alderman Steve Conway stresses his accounting background as he travels the state in search of votes in his quest to win election as state auditor.

The 41-year-old certified public accountant faces a Democratic primary challenge from Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Claire McCaskill. McCaskill isn't a CPA.

The August primary winner will face Republican Chuck Pierce in the November election. Pierce is deputy state auditor and a CPA.

Conway said a statewide opinion poll conducted in February for his campaign showed that nearly 80 percent of Missourians felt it was important for the state auditor to have an accounting background. The poll was based on 401 telephone interviews with likely voters.

Conway was interviewed at the Southeast Missourian newspaper office Tuesday in advance of an evening speech to the Cape Girardeau Democratic Club.

Conway said he wants to implement performance audits of state and local governments to show them ways to improve efficiency.

If elected, Conway said the agency would focus on audits in the areas of health care, education and prevailing-wage-law compliance. He wants to look at how school districts compare with other school districts in terms of efficiency and effectiveness.

He said the agency could study everything from administrative expenses to the ratio of students to teachers.

Conway said the auditor's office needs to conduct audits to determine if contractors are paying prevailing wages as required under state law.

Conway said he understands that local governments don't want to spend more money than necessary for a public works project. "I know that it works hardships on some of the communities, but it is going to working men and women in those communities," he said.

Conway said labor unions are concerned that some contractors could be violating the prevailing-wage law.

The St. Louis Democrat has pledged to disclose audits within 45 days after they have been completed. Currently, audits often aren't released until three to seven months after completion, Conway said.

By assuring that all audits would be released in 45 days, Conway said it would avoid any hint of partisan impropriety.

He said he wants to become state auditor to make government more responsive, efficient and effective.

Most elected officials are hardworking, honest people, he said.

"I am not interested in taking scalps in this particular job, but in helping officeholders do their jobs better," he said.

Conway said he would be an independent auditor and not a partisan politician.

Conway has been in the accounting profession since 1981. He has served as a St. Louis alderman since 1990.