AREA DEMOCRATS MARK TRUMAN DAY

Brian May, serving in his third full term as a state representative, was keynote speaker a the Byrd Township Democrats Truman Day Barbecue Saturday, held at Heartland Hall in Jackson.

A number of Cape County Democrats were on hand for the barbecue, including Cape County Democrats Central Committee chairman Rick Althaus; Byrd Township Democrat president Alex Harris and Cape Girardeau County Democratic Women's Club president, Faye Schreiner.

Don Dickerson served as master of ceremonies, and introduced the speaker.

May's seat is in District 108, which represents a portion of St. Louis City.

At the barbecue, May announced he will seek the nomination as the Democratic candidate for state treasurer next year.

May touched on a number of topics during a pre-meeting press conference, including a bill he co-sponsored to place names, addresses, and in some cases, photographs, of registered sex offenders, on the internet.

"This bill has cleared the house, and is now in a Senate Committee," he said.

May said the House has already passed a balanced budget bill, and has given the nod to bills to protect senior citizens against some scams.

The legislature is in session for another year.

"We're looking at a bill now concerning juries and juror compensation," he said.

A portion of the bill concerns jurors who are called and have to wait around several days before knowing whether they will be picked.

"This puts a lot of undue pressures on prospective jurors," said May. "If a prospective juror is not called the second day, we should send them home."

May, who lives in St. Louis, was first elected to the House in a special election in 1993 and re-elected in 1994, 1996 and 1998. He and his wife, Tracey, and children, Cullan, 5, and Allison, 3, live in the South St. Louis area, in the Corondelet Park area.

He was elected from District 108 during a special house election in 1993, has been reelected three times, 1994, 1996, and 1998.

He chairs the House Judiciary Committee and serves on a number of other House committees. A lawyer and former teacher, May graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in education from Harris-Stowe State College in 1986. He graduated from St. Louis University School of Law in 1989.

He has received a number of awards for his legislative efforts. In 1998, he received awards from the Missouri Police Chiefs Association and the Missouri Association of Probate and Associate Circuit Judges.

Earlier this year May indicated he may seek the nomination for treasurer. Later, a House colleague, Rep. Scott Larkin of Kansas City said he would seek the treasurer's nomination, setting up a primary election race for August of 2000.

"I have already opened my campaign account," said May Saturday. "We've found good support, both from the St. Louis and Kansas City areas."

May said he had some successes in seven years of the House and is looking forward to a run for treasurer. "I think Bob Holden did a good job as treasurer and I'll continue with his efforts, to keep Missouri's economy solid and create new jobs."