Parson appoints first Indian American state treasurer

Julie Smith/News Tribune photo: 
Vivek Malek was named Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, by Gov. Mike Parson to the office of Missouri Treasurer after Scott Fitzpatrick was elected to be the state auditor. Malek is an attorney from St. Louis who came to the United States from India to attend college.
Julie Smith/News Tribune photo: Vivek Malek was named Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, by Gov. Mike Parson to the office of Missouri Treasurer after Scott Fitzpatrick was elected to be the state auditor. Malek is an attorney from St. Louis who came to the United States from India to attend college.


Vivek Malek is Missouri's new treasurer and the first Indian American to hold a statewide public office.

Gov. Mike Parson announced Malek's appointment Tuesday afternoon in a news conference at the Capitol. Malek, a native of India and a Wildwood resident, will serve out the remaining two years of Scott Fitzpatrick's term before facing an election in 2024.

"I want to make sure every child in Missouri grows up with the same opportunities I have had here," Malek said Tuesday. "I know that times have been tough lately. I believe that Missouri needs a steady, conservative hand in the Office of Treasurer, and I will work every day to make sure taxpayer's money is invested wisely and directed in the most prudent ways possible."

"My tenure will be guided by the conservative principles that I hold most dear," he continued.

Malek, who has never held a public office, will begin serving as the state's chief financial officer in January.

The Treasurer's Office employs about 50 people across four divisions, according to its website.

The office is responsible for managing state revenue and investments, overseeing Missouri's $1 billion unclaimed property program, administering a couple economic development programs and tax-advantaged savings plans, and, more recently, implementing the state's school choice scholarship program.

The governor said the office is critical to maintaining a transparent state government so Missourians can track how lawmakers are spending taxpayer dollars.

Malek, 45, declined to suggest any state spending priorities Tuesday, stating he needed to consult with Treasurer's Office staff, lawmakers and the Governor's Office.

Malek is a St. Louis businessman and attorney focused on legal immigration litigation and business immigration consulting. He's practiced law in Missouri since 2006 and opened the Law Offices of Vivek Malek in 2011.

In 2020, Parson appointed Malek to the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents. Malek has been an occasional donor to Parson and other Republicans, the Missouri Independent reports.

Parson described Malek as a "proud Republican and a strong Catholic," whose "conservative principles are unimpeachable."

He said Malek has been an advocate for minorities throughout the state with strong ties to Bosnian, Hispanic, Asian and African American communities.

Malek arrived to the U.S. as an international graduate student enrolled at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. He said he had $300 in his pocket upon arriving but realized "Missouri is a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family."

Malek has been married to his wife, Riju, for 18 years and together they have three children.

He embodies the American dream, Parson said.

"State government is all about hand-ups, not handouts," Parson said. "And that is something Vivek has worked for throughout his entire career and why we know he will be a fantastic state leader."

Malek's appointment is the second time Parson has appointed the state's treasurer and the fifth time he's chosen someone to fill a statewide office, which are usually decided by voters. Parson has appointed two state treasurers, two attorneys general and the state's lieutenant governor, most recently appointing Andrew Bailey, another political newcomer, as the state attorney general last month.

Fitzpatrick, a Republican who was elected state auditor in November, was originally appointed treasurer by Parson in 2018 before he won a statewide election for the office in 2020.

Parson on Tuesday recognized the outsized influence he's had in selecting statewide elected officials, calling it unprecedented.

Parson said he interviewed "several" people for the treasurer position but didn't provide a specific number.

He said he wanted someone who is committed to the constitution and law and order, a conservative with common sense and family values, and a "calm and steady fighter" for Missourians.

Missouri treasurers can serve up to two four-year terms, according to the state constitution. Treasurers serving more than two years of a previous treasurer's term can only serve one full four-year term.

Malek said Tuesday he "absolutely" intends to run for the office in 2024.

When asked if Malek would have the governor's support in 2024, Parson said: "Most certainly. I picked these gentlemen to do the job, I expect to support them at the end of the day."

The office doesn't require any qualifications beyond the basic requirements to run for statewide office in Missouri, which include being a U.S. citizen and Missouri resident for at least a year, staying current with tax payments and campaign finance disclosures, and not having a felony record.

Fitzpatrick was paid $107,746 for the job in 2021, according to the state's accountability portal.

"The people's money is in good hands with Vivek," Parson said. "Vivek understands the incredible responsibility and privilege it is to serve the people of Missouri and appreciates the importance of a true public servant. With his background and experience, he will bring a fresh perspective to the office."

  photo  Julie Smith/News Tribune Vivek Malek was named Tuesday by Gov. Mike Parson to the office of Missouri Treasurer after Scott Fitzpatrick was elected to be the state auditor. Malek is an attorney from St. Louis who came to the United States from India to attend college.
 
 
  photo  Julie Smith/News Tribune Vivek Malek was named Tuesday by Gov. Mike Parson to the office of Missouri Treasurer after Scott Fitzpatrick was elected to be the state auditor. Malek is an attorney from St. Louis who came to the United States from India to attend college.