CANDIDATES CONSIDERING CHALLENGE TO EMERSON

Three Democrats and one Libertarian filed to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson by Friday afternoon, but several other Democrats are reportedly giving the race serious consideration.

Included among the potential challengers are Russ Carnahan, a Rolla attorney and the son of Gov. Mel Carnahan, and State Rep. Dennis Ziegenhorn of Sikeston.

Filing for the seat so far have been Democrats Thad Bullock of Cape Girardeau, Gene Curtis of Matthews, and Don Hager of Farmington. Greg Tlapek, a Cape Girardeau native, has filed on the Libertarian ticket.

None of the candidates who have filed is expected to mount serious challenges to Emerson.

Carnahan, who lost a race to Emerson in 1990, has reportedly paid for an in-depth poll that was conducted over the last few weeks to determine his strengths and any areas where Emerson could be vulnerable to a challenge.

Several weeks ago, Carnahan acknowledged he was considering a race against Emerson this year and said he had received some encouragement, but was undecided.

Carnahan was out of his office Friday and could not be reached for comment about his plans.

Sources say that Carnahan is anxious to make a run for Congress this year, though the idea is being discouraged by some family members and advisers to his father.

Most political observers believe a race against Emerson this year would be a longshot, at best.

Supporters of the governor believe a campaign by the younger Carnahan this year might have a negative political impact on the governor, who has enjoyed extremely high popularity during his first 15 months in office.

Ziegenhorn announced 10 days ago that he would not seek re-election to his 160th district seat in the Missouri House of Representatives this year. But the seven-term legislator left the door open to seek public office again in the future, fueling speculation that he might run for Congress this year.

Ziegenhorn, who has admitted an interest in running for Congress someday, has reportedly been discussing the possibility of running with some of his House colleagues and Democratic leaders in the 8th district.

Publicly, however, Ziegenhorn has downplayed a 1994 race.

Contacted at his real estate office Friday in Sikeston, Ziegenhorn said he had received some encouragement to challenge Emerson, but had nothing else to say. The representative noted that he might have more to say on Monday.

"I am honored that people are thinking about me as a potential candidate for Congress," said Ziegenhorn. "But at this point I just don't have any other comments to make about it. I might have something to say Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning."

Also mentioned recently as a potential Emerson challenger is Sandy Allison of Rolla, who is chairman of the 8th district Democratic Committee.

Candidates have until 5 p.m. Tuesday to file for offices on the ballot in 1994.

Most of the Democrats often mentioned as interested in running for Congress are not willing to challenge Emerson this year. Many believe that Emerson, who seriously considered running for the U.S. Senate and then even contemplated not seeking re-election to Congress, will not run again in 1996.

One good example is Sen. Danny Staples, D-Eminence, who has made no secret of his desire to go to Washington -- but he won't challenge Emerson.

"If Bill doesn't run, I'm running. But I'm not going to run against Bill to get there. He has been a good personal friend of mine and I won't run against him," said Staples recently.

He has filed for re-election to his 20th district Senate seat.

There are several factors working against potential challengers to Emerson this year.

In years following the presidential election, traditionally, the party that holds the White House loses seats in Congress.

Another factor is that Emerson has maintained a strong bi-partisan coalition of supporters since winning his seat in 1980. Re-districting in 1992 also made the 8th district less of a Democratic district. Heavily Democratic Ste. Genevieve County was taken out of the district and replaced by Wright County, a heavily Republican County, and very conservative Texas County.

Emerson also has seniority on the public works and agriculture committees which he has used to support programs and projects benefiting Southern Missouri.