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Kelly Calls for Fundamental Values

By DAVID ROYSE
State Capital Bureau
January 09, 1995

JEFFERSON CITY _ Missouri's Republican State Auditor sounded the national Republican theme of changing the process of government itself in her inaugural speech.

"The time has come to re-evaluate what we are doing and how we are doing it," Margaret Kelly told an audience of about 250 onlookers in the Capitol rotunda Monday (Jan 9)..

Kelly's father, Emery Blake, six months short of his 96th birthday, was in attendance at the ceremony, and helped hold the family bible for Kelly as she was given the oath of office by Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Ann Covington.

Kelly said she learned from her father the ``fundamental values and common-sense approaches to managing resources and finances'' that allow her to do her job.

Kelly was first appointed State Auditor in 1984. She was re-elected in 1986, 1990 and 1994.

Kelly said government has lost sight of some of the values she learned from her father. ``Efficiency and saving have given way to spending and expanding. The cycle never seems to stop,'' Kelly said.

``The farther government moves away from fundamental values, the more distant it is from the people it is supposed to be serving.''

Kelly's speech reflected the nationwide call for more frugal and efficient government, said her press secretary, Frank Ybarra.

While Republicans in Congress are calling for a re-evaluation of big government, Ybarra said Kelly has fought for more efficient government since she has been in office.

Kelly said the future will require a re-evaluation of the role of state government.

``It's time to streamline the programs we do need, and stop believing that bureaucracy and bloated government are going to solve our problems _ because they won't,'' Kelly said in her speech.

Kelly said the problems of the future are large but solvable. ``We have almost unlimited opportunities to find solutions and resolve difficult situations. The technology we have today gives us a tremendous advantage through computerization and modernization.

``With these resources at our disposal, we cannot afford to continue the status quo,'' Kelly continued. ``New approaches need to be developed, and that begins with a new attitude about how government should work.''