Gov. Jay Nixon today appointed John Watson as Missouri state auditor following the death Thursday of Auditor Tom Schweich.
Watson has agreed to serve as the State Auditor until a permanent appointment is made.
"The Missouri State Auditor's Office provides a critical public service," Nixon said. "John will serve as the State Auditor and carry out the important functions of the office until a permanent appointment is made, in accordance with state law."
Under Missouri law, the governor is charged with filling the vacancy.
"I have tremendous respect for the State Auditor's Office, and I will carry out these duties in service to the people of Missouri," said Watson. "I continue to keep Tom Schweich's family and friends in my thoughts and prayers, and join them in mourning this loss."
John Watson currently serves as senior adviser to Nixon. Previously, he was Nixon's chief of staff from January 2009 until December 2014, and served as chief of staff to then-Attorney General Nixon from 1997 until his election as governor. Watson also worked in finance at Emerson Electric in St. Louis and at the Department of Economic Development prior to attending law school. Watson, a Missouri native, earned both his bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Watson and his wife, Julie, live in Jefferson City with their three daughters.
Earlier version
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Missouri auditor's office is carrying on its business after the death of Auditor Tom Schweich.
Schweich fatally shot himself Thursday at his suburban St. Louis home in what police describe as an "apparent suicide."
His office was open for business Friday and released an annual report bearing Schweich's name about property seizures by law enforcement agencies.
Auditor's spokesman Spence Jackson said the office also plans to go ahead with a scheduled release of an audit about the Joplin School District next week.
He said Deputy Auditor Harry Otto and Chief of Staff Trish Vincent were running the office.
Missouri law says Gov. Jay Nixon shall "immediately appoint" a replacement when a vacancy occurs in the auditor's office. He has not yet named a new auditor.