AREA LAWMAKERS SEEK HOUSE POSTS

JEFFERSON CITY -- Two Bootheel Democrats are actively seeking the top two leadership posts in the Missouri House of Representatives.

Rep. Denny Merideth III of Caruthersville hopes to be the next speaker of the House while Rep. Phillip Britt of Kennett is going for the chamber's No. 2 job, speaker pro tem. Both men are unopposed for re-election this year.

Merideth, 49, only recently joined the Democratic House Caucus. He came to the General Assembly as an Independent in 1997 after winning a special election to fill a vacant seat. Merideth, the first Independent to serve in the House in more than a century, won a full term in 1998. He defeated Democrats both times.

In March, Merideth filed for re-election as a Democrat and officially joined the House party caucus a few weeks later. He represents Pemiscot County and parts of Dunklin and New Madrid counties.

As an Independent, Merideth worked closely with members of both parties and hopes to woo Democrats and Republicans alike to gain the speakership.

"I think it gives me some definite opportunities to build upon relationships," Merideth said. "We need to be able to work together to achieve a lot of the things the people of Missouri need to have happen. We left a lot of legislation on the table this session."

The 2000 legislative session, which concluded Friday, was marked by political bickering in the House and is considered by many lawmakers to have been one of the least productive in state history.

Merideth announced his intention to seek the speakership in a letter sent to colleagues Friday. He called the reaction to his announcement "varied."

"There was a lot of very positive interest from a number of those whom I work very, very closely with," Merideth said.

Merideth plans to visit House districts throughout the state to drum up support and to get a better understanding of statewide needs.

"I've got a lot of work to do and a lot of people to meet with one on one," Merideth said. "I'm dedicated to making the position work right and making sure the process in the House works efficiently and promotes the will of the people."

The House speaker, Rep. Steve Gaw of Moberly, is leaving the Legislature to seek the Democratic nomination for secretary of state. Gaw first won election to the House in 1992 and became speaker in 1996.

Speaker Pro Tem Jim Kreider of Nixa, and Rep. Tim Harlan of Columbia are the only other announced candidates for the top post. Kreider has represented his Christian County district since 1992; Harlan has served since 1994.

Several other Democratic representatives are reportedly considering runs for the speakership but have not announced their intentions to do so.

If his efforts are successful, Merideth would be the first House speaker from Southeast Missouri since Rep. Willis H. Meredith of Butler County held the post in 1933.

Britt, 29, is in his first term, winning election in 1998. He is considered one of the up-and-coming young Democrats in the House. Britt announced his plans to replace Kreider as pro tem in April.

"I went (to Jefferson City) with some ambition to be in leadership," Britt said. "I always thought being pro tem was a logical step."

Having someone from Southeast Missouri be it him or Merideth in a leadership position would yield great benefits for the region, Britt said.

"I think it's very important; it brings credibility to a region," Britt said. "We always talk about our area being left out. In a leadership position, your voice is heard and you have a say in setting the agenda for the session."

If either Britt or Merideth wins a leadership post, it is likely the other will not. Britt's district, which covers portions of Butler, Dunklin and Stoddard counties, is contiguous with Merideth's. House Democrats are not likely to have representatives from the same region serve in the top two positions.

Britt said the two races will be run separately.

"I'll run on my merits and Denny will run on his," Britt said.

The ability of either man to ascend to a leadership position is entirely dependent on Democrats maintaining their House majority following the November elections, when all 163 House seats are up for election. The party in power controls the choices for speaker and pro tem.

Democrats have been the majority party in the House for half a century. In recent years, however, Republicans have made significant gains in the number of seats they hold in the chamber.

With 86 seats, Democrats hold a slim four-vote majority. There are 76 Republicans and one vacant seat. It takes 82 votes to pass legislation through the House.

Marc Powers may be contacted in Jefferson City at (573) 635-4608 or by e-mail at mppowers@socket.net.