Cole McNary

Early life and career

Cole McNary is the son of Gene McNary, the former Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Executive Director of the Missouri Gaming Commission, and County Executive of St. Louis County. His mother is Ina Risch McNary Tornallyay.

The younger McNary attended Lindbergh High School in St. Louis County. He then obtained a bachelor's degree in Aviation Management from Auburn University and a Masters of Business Administration from St. Louis University. He worked with business analysis and sales before getting a Teaching Certificate in Physics from The University of Missouri-St. Louis and becoming a teacher. Before becoming a State Rep. he worked for St. John Vianney High School where he taught mathematics and physics. McNary met his wife, Christy, while campaigning for his father. They have three children and attend United Methodist Church of Green Trails in Chesterfield.

Political career

In 2008, McNary ran for the Missouri House of Representatives. He defeated five opponents in the Republican primary, winning with 48.5 percent of the vote. McNary then went on to win the general election against Martha "Marty" Ott, with 57.94% of the vote. In 2010, he won reelection without opposition. He was one of thirty-nine state legislators to sign a no new taxes pledge. After redistricting drew incumbent Missouri State Representatives John Diehl and Rick Stream into the same district as McNary, McNary declared his intention to run for State Treasurer of Missouri in 2012. A large part of his campaign was his experience as chairman of the downsizing state government committee in the state house. He won the Republican nomination but lost in the general election to incumbent Clint Zweifel.