Peter Kinder

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Peter D. Kinder is an American politician from the State of Missouri. In 2004 he was elected lieutenant governor of the state. He is a Republican.

[edit] Education and Early Career

Kinder was born and raised in Cape Girardeau and attended public schools there. He attended Southeast Missouri State University and the University of Missouri at Columbia. He graduated from St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas in 1979 and was admitted to the Missouri bar in 1980.

After law school Kinder served as a staff member of Congressman Bill Emerson in Washington, DC from 1980 to 1983. He returned to Missouri and worked as an attorney and real estate specialist for hotel developer Charles Drury. In 1987 Kinder became associate publisher of the Southeast Missourian newspaper, where he wrote weekly columns and editorials.

[edit] Political career

In 1992 Kinder made his first bid for public office, winning election to a seat in the Missouri State Senate representing Cape Girardeau and surrounding counties. Kinder was re-elected in 1996 and 2000. Kinder considered running for Missouri state auditor in 1998, attorney general in 2000, and governor in 2004, but ultimately passed each time. When the Republicans gained a majority in the Missouri Senate following a round of special elections in February 2001, Kinder became President Pro Tempore, the top official in the Missouri Senate. In 2004 he sought and won election as Missouri's Lieutenant Governor, defeating Democrat Bekki Cook. He became the second sitting President Pro Tempore to be elected Lieutenant Governor of Missouri.