Judith K. Moriarty (born February 2, 1942) is an American politician from Missouri

Missouri

Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...

. She was the first woman to serve as Missouri Secretary of State.

Moriarty was born Judith Spry in Fairfield

Fairfield, Missouri

Fairfield is a former unincorporated community in Benton County, Missouri. Fairfield and much of its surrounding township, Alexander, is now covered by water, as part of the Harry S. Truman Dam and Reservoir. It was located about seven miles south of Warsaw just west of Route 83...

, Benton County, Missouri, the daughter of Earl and Blanch Spry. She graduated from high school in Warsaw, Missouri

Warsaw, Missouri

Warsaw is a city located in Benton County, Missouri. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 2,070. It is the county seat of Benton County. As of 2005, its estimated population was 2,268.-State and U.S. records:...

, and attended Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg

Warrensburg, Missouri

Warrensburg is a city in Johnson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 16,340 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Johnson County. The Warrensburg Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Johnson County. It is home to the University of Central Missouri.-History:Warrensburg...

.

Moriarty settled in Sedalia, Missouri

Sedalia, Missouri

Sedalia is a city located about south of the Missouri River in Pettis County, Missouri. U.S. Highway 50 and U.S. Highway 65 intersect in the city. As of 2006, the city had a total population of 20,669. It is the county seat of Pettis County. The Sedalia Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of...

, and became active in state and local politics. She was appointed to run the local license fee office by Governor Joe Teasdale

Joseph P. Teasdale

Joseph Patrick Teasdale is an American politician. He served as the 48th Governor of Missouri from 1977 to 1981. He is member of the Democratic Party....

 in 1977. In 1982, Moriarty was elected County Clerk of Pettis County

Pettis County, Missouri

Pettis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. The county was organized in 1833 and is named for U.S. Congressman Spencer Darwin Pettis. As of 2000, the population was 39,403...

. She was re-elected in 1986 and 1990.

In 1992, Moriarty was elected as Missouri's Secretary of State. She was sworn into office January 11, 1993, becoming the first woman to hold that position. Moriarty caused a stir early in her term when she announced that the Official Manual State of Missouri

Official Manual State of Missouri

rightThe Official Manual - State of Missouri is a biennial publication from the Missouri Secretary of State. The Blue Book was first publish in 1889. It contains historical, political, and statistical information about the state of Missouri.The book cover had traditionally been blue although under...

, published by the Secretary of State and often referred to as the "Blue Book" because of its traditional blue cover, would instead be published with a mauve

Mauve

Mauve is a pale lavender-lilac color, one of many in the range of purples. The color mauve is named after the mallow flower....

 cover as a tribute to the role of women in Missouri politics.

In 1994 Moriarty was accused of using her position as Secretary of State to help her son file for political office after the deadline had passed by back-dating a form issued by her office. Moriarty was impeached by the Missouri House of Representatives and was removed from office by the Missouri Supreme Court. Governor Mel Carnahan

Mel Carnahan

Melvin Eugene "Mel" Carnahan was an American politician. A Democrat, he served as the 51st Governor of Missouri from 1993 to 2000. He died in a plane crash on the Pevely and Hillsboro, Missouri border during a campaign for the U.S...

 appointed Bekki Cook

Bekki Cook

Rebecca McDowell Cook is a politician from Missouri, USA. She served as Missouri Secretary of State from December 1994 to January 2001....

 as Moriarty's successor.

In 2002, Moriarty attempted a political comeback. She ran for the Missouri House of Representatives seat representing the Sedalia area. She was defeated in the November election. In 2005, she left the Democratic Party and aligned with the Libertarian Party

Libertarian Party (United States)

The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...

. Moriarty reportedly considered running for Governor in 2008

Missouri gubernatorial election, 2008

-Polling:-Results:-See also:* U.S. gubernatorial elections, 2008* Missouri gubernatorial election, 2004* Missouri Lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2008-External links:* from the Missouri Secretary of State* at Project Vote Smart...

, but did not meet the filing deadline.