Attorney Vivek Malek was appointed the next state Treasurer by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, but critics are questioning the political newcomer’s conservative values.
Malek, 45, will replace former Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick who was elected Missouri State Auditor.
“He’s a guy with no previous experience in a position dealing with financing,” said Byron Keelin, president of the Freedom Principle MO, a Missouri-first pro-citizens organization. “I'm not really sure about him whatsoever.”
Malek, who lives in Wildwood, has worked extensively as an immigration attorney in Missouri since 2006, according to a press release.
“Vivek helps legal immigrants embrace our nation and achieve their American Dream too,” Parson said in a statement online. “As a Republican, strong capitalist, and conservative Missourian, we know Vivek will be a principled leader who works hard every day to safeguard the people’s money and bring opportunity to Missouri families and their communities.”
However, Keelin is concerned that Malek will not pick up where Fitzpatrick left off when it comes to education.
“I've heard that Malek is anti-school choice, and the state treasurer controls a lot of the school choice funding aspect of things,” Keelin told the St. Louis Record. “I’ve got a feeling that this could impact the Pro School Choice Movement.”
In 2021, Fitzpatrick went so far as to create a new position within his cabinet specifically to implement and oversee the state's first school choice program, according to media reports.
“From what the grassroots people have been telling me, the state treasurer appointee is an immigration lawyer with no finance background, and he's not necessarily for school choice type issues,” Keelin said.
Malek did not respond to requests for comment.
Malek will resign his position on the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Governors prior to being sworn in as Treasurer.
“I'm sure he's just gonna be a 'Yes' man to Parsons, and that's what I'm worried about,” Keelin added.
It’s also unclear whether Malek will continue Fitzpatrick’s work in the area of ESG scoring, according to Keelin.
"When he was treasurer, Scott Fitzpatrick removed all state funding from any ESG scoring type portfolios so is this guy going back to that,” he said. “Then, Scott Fitzpatrick had business experience. He was also a really good legislator when he was in the house as the budget committee chairman, and then he became state treasurer. Now, this guy? I’m not really too sure about him.”
As previously reported, Malek, who immigrated from India, is being celebrated as the first person of color to hold a statewide office and he says he plans to campaign for the position next year.
But Keelin said race doesn’t matter.
“I just want someone to make sure that he’s competent,” he said. “That's all I'm concerned about and that they represent conservative values.”