AMICK WILL MOVE INTO NEW DISTRICT

SCOTT CITY - After the Missouri House reapportionment process left his hometown split between two legislative districts, state Rep. Ollie Amick has decided to change his official residence to Benton.

That means Amick will be in the new 160th District, which includes the city of Sikeston, where six-term state Rep. Dennis Ziegenhorn lives.

Amick's current residence in Scott City was placed in the district of state Rep. Gene Copeland, D-New Madrid, the senior member of the Missouri General Assembly with 31 years of service.

Amick was the odd man out when population losses in the Bootheel forced the elimination of one Southeast Missouri seat in the House of Representatives. His present district, made up of most of Mississippi County and a large part of north Scott County, was carved up between Ziegenhorn, Copeland, and Rep. Marilyn Williams, D-Dudley.

Earlier this month, Amick changed his official residence to the home of his daughter, Sally O'Brien, who lives just north of Benton. Amick said he and his wife, Betty, will be moving to a home in the new district.

"I'll be selling my house in Scott City and my wife and I will be looking for a home in west Scott City, Kelso, and Benton," said Amick. He said the decision was based not only on political considerations, but also on the fact he and his wife have a larger house than they need.

Amick, who is serving his second term in the House, said deciding which district to reside in was difficult. "It's a hard decision because I am leaving part of my former district, Mississippi County, especially. I've had a lot of encouragement there, but any way you look at it, it would be a hard district to serve from either New Madrid or Scott County."

Amick said he has not decided whether to run against Ziegenhorn but that is one of his options. "I'm looking at redistricting of the senatorial district to see if it would be favorable to a Democrat and if there would be adequate support for my candidacy," he said.

The present 27th District Senate seat is held by John Dennis, D-Benton, who is not seeking re-election. New district boundaries are being drawn by a panel of appeals court judges.

Another option, one which Amick said he is leaning against, would be to retire and not run for the House or Senate.

Ziegenhorn said Tuesday night he had no comment on Amick's move to his district. "I'm in the real estate business and if he wants to move to Sikeston I'd like to sell him a House," he remarked.

Ziegenhorn has also been mentioned as a potential Senate candidate, and although he has not closed the door completely, his plan now is to stay in the House. "If I had to file today, it would be for the House," he said.

The new 160th District is tilted in Ziegenhorn's favor since only about one-third of it is in Amick's present district. Even though Ziegenhorn is from Sikeston, Amick said he believes he would have some support in that city if he decided to run.

"My objective right now is to weigh my decision and all the options," explained Amick. "I hope to make a final decision around Christmas. In the meantime, I will go on representing my present district to the best of my ability."