Robin Carnahan

Robin Carnahan (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician, daughter of Missouri politicians Mel and Jean Carnahan and the current Missouri Secretary of State. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Early life and career

Carnahan grew up in Rolla, Missouri, the only daughter in a family of four children. After graduating from Rolla High School, she enrolled at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, earning a bachelor's degree, with honors, in Economics.

Robin Carnahan continued her education at the University of Virginia School of Law where she served as Executive Editor of the Virginia Journal of International Law before receiving her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree in 1986. She returned to Missouri and began practicing law with the St. Louis law firm of Thompson & Mitchell, focusing on business and corporate law.

In 1990 Carnahan went to work to help rebuild the democracies and economies of the nations of the former Soviet Union and other formerly Communist regimes. As part of a team from the National Democratic Institute, she helped draft voting laws, train new political leaders and monitor elections in Hungary and Czechoslovakia. Since then, she has worked in six countries to promote democracy and free elections. Carnahan also served as an executive at the Export-Import Bank of the United States. At the bank, Carnahan worked to help American companies increase the sale of their goods and services to buyers around the world. Carnahan is a proud aunt of two nephews. She recently married.

Political career

Carnahan's career in Missouri politics began in earnest in 1999, when she led the statewide campaign against the concealed carry referendum, also known as Proposition B. Carnahan's father, the late Governor Mel Carnahan, was also an active opponent of this proposition. It was Gov. Carnahan's threat to veto any concealed carry legislation that forced a referendum vote in the state. Proposition B was narrowly defeated in April 1999, [http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrweb/raceresults.asp?eid=8&oid=2151&arc=1] although a similar right-to-carry proposal was adopted by the legislature over Governor Holden's veto in September 2003. As a candidate for statewide office in 2004, and as an elected official, Carnahan has made a point of publicly professing her support for the Second Amendment.

On November 2, 2004, Carnahan was elected as Missouri's 38th Secretary of State. This was her first bid for elected office. As Secretary of State, Carnahan's priorities include using innovative methods to better serve those who use her office. Specifically, she is working to expand the online services offered by the Secretary of State's office, creating one-stop-shop for the Missouri businesses; crack down on firms that attempt to defraud Missouri investors; protect Missouri's State Libraries and Archives; and ensure confidence in the state's elections system.

In 2005, Carnahan was involved in a public dispute with her predecessor, now Governor Matt Blunt, over a proposal to move the regulation of securities from the Secretary of State's office to the Missouri Department of Insurance. Blunt supported the proposal, while Carnahan opposed it. In what Carnahan called "a victory for consumers," Blunt eventually dropped the proposal.

Family legacy

Carnahan comes from a family that has been active in Missouri politics for several generations. Her father, Mel Carnahan served in several offices and was Governor of Missouri from 1993 until his death in 2000. Her mother, Jean Carnahan served Missouri as a United States Senator when she was appointed to fill the seat Gov. Carnahan won posthumously. Her grandfather, A.S.J. Carnahan served as Congressman from south-central Missouri (until he lost the 1960 Democratic primary to a more conservative Democrat, Congressman Richard Ichord) and as the first U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone, appointed by President John F. Kennedy. Her brother Russ Carnahan is currently a member of Congress representing the southern portion of the St. Louis metropolitan area.

On February 27, 2006 Carnahan announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She will continue to serve as Secretary of State while undergoing treatment. [http://www.stltoday.com/blogs/news-politicalfix/2006/02/robin-carnahan-announces-she-has-breast-cancer/]

Electoral history

*2004 election for state Secretary of State
**Robin Carnahan (D), 51%
**Catherine Hanaway (R), 46%

References

External links

* [http://www.sos.mo.gov/ Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan] official state site
* [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200424&c=401858 Follow the Money - Robin Carnahan] 2004 campaign contributions
* [http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=MMO82416 Project Vote Smart - Robin Carnahan (MO)] profile
* [http://www.carnahanformissouri.com/ Robin Carnahan for Missouri] official campaign site