Gov. Mike Parson of Missouri has appointed Indian American immigration lawyer Vivek Malek to the position of state treasurer, making him the first non-white statewide office in Missouri’s history. Malek, a 45-year-old Republican from the Wildwood neighborhood of St. Louis, will take the position of fellow Republican Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick, who was elected state auditor. According to a statement from Parson, “Vivek’s tale is compelling proof that the American Dream can and will carry on for the next generation of Missourians.” “Vivek and I both agree that immigrants are one of the greatest sources of American greatness, as President (Ronald) Reagan once stated. Vivek helps legal immigrants embrace our country and fulfill their American Dreams via our common principles, the speaker stated.
Vivek, he continued, “is an accomplished lawyer, successful businessman, proud husband and parent, and someone who genuinely exemplifies the American dream.” Malek’s approach to work was lauded by Parson. “With Vivek, the public’s money is in capable hands. He recognizes the value of true public service and the enormous duty and honor that come with serving Missouri’s citizens, he tweeted. I promise to offer the position and the people of Missouri my all and my best, Malek said. “It is my honor of life to be able to serve as the next State Treasurer of the state of Missouri,” Malek said.
He said, “Times have been hard recently. I’ll work tirelessly to ensure that taxpayer money is prudently invested because Missouri needs a steady, conservative hand in the office of treasurer. Malek, a father of three, promised to offer the people of Missouri his all. Later, he revealed to reporters that he wants to run for treasurer in 2024 for a full term. In order to pursue his master’s degree in business administration at Southeast Missouri State University, Malek relocated from the northern Indian city of Rohtak to what is known as Missouri’s Bootheel in 2002.
According to the Governor’s Office, Malek, a graduate of Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak, started practicing law in Missouri in 2006 and established a law business in 2011. In 2020, Parson appointed Malek to the board of governors at Southeast Missouri State University. The Governor’s Office has stated that he will step down before taking the oath of office as treasurer. Among other honors and distinctions, he received the Minority Business Leader Award from the St. Louis Business Journal in 2010, the Up and Coming Lawyers Award from Missouri Lawyers Media in 2010, and was named one of Business Today magazine’s Top 30 Under 30 in 2007.
