BOOSTERS OF PEROT PASS GOAL

The 8th Congressional District coordinator for independent presidential candidate Ross Perot said Monday that the group "has surpassed our expectations" in getting signatures to have Perot's name put on the ballot in Missouri.

"Today we stand at 12,695, and it looks like we will go past 13,000 by the time the signatures all trickle in," said Gil Degenhardt, the 8th District coordinator.

Initially, Degenhardt said they hoped to collect 10,000 signatures, which would be more than double the 4,100 names needed for this district.

About a month ago a decision to change the name of some presidential electors on the petitions caused Perot leaders in Missouri to discard a first set of petitions - including almost 10,000 from the 8th District - and start over.

Monday was the deadline that had been set to get new petitions signed in the district.

Degenhardt said he was pleased with the strong second effort and he sees nothing but increasing support for Perot in Missouri. "It looks good; activity certainly isn't dying down," said Degenhardt.

He said well over 100,000 signatures will be gathered statewide. Approximately 23,000 are needed to get Perot's name on the ballot in November.

Degenhardt said that since petitions were circulated twice, many of the people whose names are on the new petitions had not signed the old ones. He guessed that between 17,000 and 18,000 different voters in the 8th District had signed one of the two petitions.

Degenhardt said all petitions gathered from around the state will be taken to Jefferson City on July 18 to be delivered to the secretary of state's office.

A busload of volunteers from Southeast Missouri will deliver the petitions and participate in a rally that may include an appearance by Perot.

Degenhardt said Perot is on the ballot in 20 states and has more than enough petitions submitted in eight other states to get on the ballot once signatures are certified.

On Friday Degenhardt will attend a meeting of congressional district coordinators in Jefferson City. Russ Melbye, the representative from Perot's Dallas office to the Missouri organization, will also attend the meeting.