Democrat plans challenge for U.S. 8th District

A retired teacher who served a term as president of the Missouri State Teachers Association and two terms on the Public School Retirement System Board of Trustees filed Monday to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson.

Veronica J. Hambacker of Salem, Mo., spent 33 years teaching before retiring from the Viburnum Public Schools three years ago, husband John Hambacker said. She is currently chairwoman of the Dent County Democratic Party, he said.

Veronica Hambacker was an elected member of the retirement board from 1994 to 2002. She was chairwoman of the board from 1998 to 2000.

Emerson, a Cape Girardeau Republican, has represented the 28-county 8th Congressional District since 1996, when she was elected to finish a term for her late husband, U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson.

Democrats were unable to mount a strong challenge to Emerson in 2004. She handily defeated Dean Henderson of Peace Valley, Mo., who received only 26.6 percent of the vote.