COOK WORKING TO RESTORE CREDIBILITY IN OFFICE

Missouri Secretary of State Bekki Cook told the Cape Girardeau West Rotarians Thursday she survived her first legislative session, but a big weight wasn't lifted from her shoulders when it was over.

Jackson native Cook spoke to the Rotarians at their weekly luncheon at the Holiday Inn.

After five months in office, she said she has become well-acclimated to the job and wants to work at restoring credibility to the office tainted by the impeachment of Judi Moriarty in December.

"People like James Kirkpatrick and Roy Blunt instilled honor in the office," she said, "but when I took office, I think there had been an undignified atmosphere for some time."

Cook said she and her staff have made "incredible headway" in the five months since Gov. Mel Carnahan appointed her Dec. 16, but the hard work continues, even after the end of the legislative session.

She said the staff has worked hard hammering out a budget that works for the office now and in the future.

"We also handle many of the state publications including the blue book," she said, "and yes, it will be blue."

The state's official manual that lists the state's officeholders was bound in a mauve cover under Moriarty.

Cook's staff is learning to produce the manual with desktop publishing software.

Besides using computer technology to produce the manual, her office hopes to link the computers of county clerks to a central computer in Jefferson City.

"That way we can cross-check records and insure that there is no voter fraud in our state with people crossing county lines," Cook said.

She also said her staff has been "put in line." Whether it be adjusting salaries, titles or personnel, Cook said the office reflects the people she feels comfortable having as staff members with corresponding salaries.

"Generally, I am proud to say that they do a good job for the citizens of this state," Cook said.