BAILEY OUT OF POLITICS; TAKES JOB IN PRIVATE SECTOR

Just a few weeks ago, on Sept. 17, Wendell Bailey paid a visit to the state capitol where legislators were completing the first week of a two-week special session called to deal with flood relief.

As the former state representative, congressman and state treasurer stood on the side gallery of the Missouri House chamber, were Republicans sit, he was warmly greeted.

Many came by to say hello, and Bailey looked very much like a politician looking for another race to run.

But now Bailey has a new job. Instead of looking forward to his next political campaign, he's looking forward to that job in the private sector as marketing director of Llama Asset Management Co.

The company, based in Fayetteville, Ark., is owned by Alice Walton, daughter of the late Wal Mart founder Sam Walton. The firm specializes in making investments in U.S. government securities and corporate bonds for company pension funds. Presently, the company is managing $200 million.

"I have no specific plans for any political race," said Bailey. "This job opportunity came open for me. It's a challenging job and that's what I'm focusing on. I don't plan on being a candidate for anything in 1994."

He said, "I may have the political needle out of my arm ... I may have kicked the habit."

Bailey continues to make his home in Willow Springs, where he launched his political career 25 years ago as a member of the city council.

During his visit to Jefferson City less than a month ago, when Bailey talked about the future, he was talking in terms of a future political race. After leaving office as state treasurer in January, Bailey devoted his attention to a free distribution newspaper he started publishing, but ended the venture several months later.

Bailey had expressed a strong interest in running for the seat of 8th District U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, if he had decided to seek the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate. Emerson announced over the weekend that he will not seek the seat held by U.S. Sen. John Danforth.

Asked about his interest in challenging former governor John Ashcroft for the GOP nomination to the Senate, Bailey said he was "toying with the idea."

But Bailey made it clear his preference is to seek the congressional seat. Bailey was elected to Congress in 1980, but after re-districting was forced to run in a virtually new district in 1982. he lost to incumbent Democrat Ike Skelton.

In 1984 he won the state treasurer's office, was re-elected in 1988, and then lost the GOP nomination for governor last year.

When Emerson announced Saturday that he had ruled out a run for the Senate, he said it would be a while before he announced whether he would seek a new term in the House.

Most people believe Emerson will re-seek his congressional seat, but Bailey said even if Emerson retired he was not planning to be involved in 1994 as a candidate.