AREA LEGISLATIVE RACES OFFER BOTH PARTIES HOPES FOR GAINS

In a year when Republicans are trying to increase their numbers in the Missouri House of Representatives and Democrats are trying to hold their own, four races in Southeast Missouri have become battlegrounds for both parties.

In two districts, Republicans are trying to win seats now held by Democrats that were vacated by retirements of longtime incumbents. In two other districts, Democrats are trying to win back seats once held by longtime Democratic legislators that were recently captured by GOP candidates.

All four races have drawn attention from state party and campaign organizations formed to benefit House candidates in each party.

The two districts where Republicans are hoping to capture Democratic seats are in the 160th and 155th.

In the 160th District, which includes the city of Sikeston and much of north Scott County, including a large part of Scott City, and the cities of Kelso, Benton, New Hamburg and Miner, Rep. Dennis Ziegenhorn is retiring after 14 years.

Josh Bill, 43, a Sikeston insurance agent and city council member, is trying to win the seat for Republicans. He faces Joe Heckemeyer of Sikeston, son of Circuit Judge Tony Heckemeyer, who is also a former representative.

Heckemeyer, 28, easily won the Democratic primary in August, and the district is regarded as heavily Democratic. However, in recent years voters in Scott County, particularly the city of Sikeston, have shown a greater tendency to vote for Republican candidates.

In the 155th District, Rep. Herb Fallert of Ste. Genevieve is retiring after 12 years. The district is fairly evenly divided between Ste. Genevieve County, considered heavily Democratic, and Perry County, considered heavily Republican.

The GOP candidate is Pat Naeger, 29, of Perryville, who is serving his second term as Perry County coroner. The Democratic candidate is Thomas Schaaf, 40, of Ste. Genevieve, a heavy-equipment operator.

Of the two open Democratic seats, Republicans consider the 155th District their best chance for gaining a seat.

In the 156th, Republican Rep. Bill Foster, 47, a Poplar Bluff businessman, is challenged by Marvin E. Bowles of Piedmont, a funeral director who now serves as Wayne County presiding commissioner.

Bowles, 69, has been campaigning almost since Foster won a special election for the seat that had been held since 1983 by Democrat Joe Driskill. He resigned the post to become director of the Department of Economic Development in March 1993.

The district includes Wayne County, part of Ripley and Butler counties, and a large part of Bollinger County, including Marble Hill and Zalma.

In the 106th District, two-term Republican Rep. James Graham, 34 of Fredericktown is challenged by Democrat Don Weiland, 57, a Fredericktown businessman and real-estate developer.

Graham won his seat in 1990, when he defeated longtime Democratic Rep. Frank Ellis of Sedgewickville.

The 106th District includes a small part of Bollinger County, all of Madison County, and a large part of southern St. Francois County, including the city of Farmington.

Democratic Party leaders have targeted both districts as places to potentially take House seats from Republicans.

In the 158th District, which comprises all of the city of Cape Girardeau except for Ward 17, six-term Republican Rep. Mary Kasten is challenged by Democrat Melinda McCulley.

Both parties have devoted resources to the race. Gov. Mel Carnahan held a fund-raiser for McCulley and House Speaker Bob Griffin has contributed to her effort.

The only state Senate race in the area is in the 20th District, where Democrat Danny Staples of Eminence faces Louise Gorse Falch of St. Francois County. Staples is seeking a fourth term.

All other area legislators are running without opposition. They include David Schwab, R-Jackson, 157th District; Mark Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, 154th District; Marilyn Williams, D-Dudley, 159th District; Gene Copeland, D-New Madrid, 161st District; Donald Prost, D-Caruthersville, 162nd District; and Larry Thomason, D-Kennett, 163rd District.