CANDIDATES FOR STATEWIDE OFFICES TRY TO FOCUS ATTENTION ON RACES

While most of the voter attention has been focused on the races for president, governor and the U.S. Senate, eight people have been traveling the state trying to gain attention for lesser statewide offices.

Three of the eight have campaigned statewide before. All four of the offices are vacant because the present officeholders, all elected in 1984, ran for governor this year.

The statewide race drawing the most attention below the governor's post is attorney general, where State Sen. Jay Nixon of Jefferson County is attempting to become the first Democrat to hold the job in 24 years.

Nixon, who lost a race against U.S. Sen. John Danforth in 1988, is in a hard fought contest with David Steelman, a Rolla attorney and former minority leader of the Missouri House.

The attorney general's office is one Republicans want to capture because it has been the training ground for Republicans like Danforth, Gov. John Ashcroft, and the party's 1992 nominee for governor, William Webster.

Nixon won a four-way primary in August, while Steelman defeated St. Louis attorney John Hall, who was endorsed by Danforth.

The Second Injury Fund that has been a major issue in the governor's race is also a key issue in the attorney general's race. Nixon has charged that Steelman benefited from the controversial fund and has attempted to link him with Webster in the scandal.

On the other hand, Steelman has criticized Nixon for some of his financial dealings and has charged that he used his influence as a senator to get state contracts for companies he has an interest in. Nixon has strongly denied the charge.

Another issue is over desegregation payments in St. Louis and Kansas City. Steelman has pledged to continue fighting the court orders, while Nixon has said that fighting has not worked and has cost the state $1.5 billion. He suggests it is time to sit down with federal officials and determine what Missouri needs to do to bring an end to the payments as quickly as possible.

The contest for lieutenant governor is between State Auditor Margaret Kelly, a Republican, and Sen. Roger Wilson of Columbia, who has been chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee for six years.

Kelly, who is the first woman ever to hold statewide office in Missouri, is campaigning on her seven years experience as auditor and the watchdog role she has played in government.

Wilson has criticized Kelly, contending that she has limited her campaigning and is running only because Ashcroft asked her to fill out the ticket. Wilson is also charging that Kelly has avoided talking about issues during the campaign and has raised doubts about her desire to be lieutenant governor.

Although the present duties of the lieutenant governor are nothing more than presiding over the Senate, a proposition sponsored by Wilson is on the Nov. 3 ballot to expand the duties of the office. Kelly has said she will accept the duties if elected, but has declined to endorse Wilson's Proposition C.

The additional duties would involve the lieutenant governor in economic development, early childhood education, and programs involving the elderly.

Former State Rep. Bob Holden of St. Louis, who came close to defeating Republican State Treasurer Wendell Bailey in 1988, is making a second try for the treasurer's post. A onetime aide to former treasurer James I. Spainhower, Holden is opposed by Ozark County Treasurer Gary Melton.

Melton has criticized Holden for taking campaign contributions from banks, including Central Missouri Trust Bank in Jefferson City, a longtime contributor to Democratic campaigns and a longtime depository for state funds. Holden counters by pointing out only about 2 percent of his contributions have come from financial institutions.

Melton is focusing on his experience as county treasurer, which he feels prepares him for the statewide post. He has held his county office for six years, is a certified public accountant and was in management for the Frisco Railroad. The Republican also charges that Holden's only job experience has come in government.

Holden is focusing on his six years of experience in the Missouri House, his background in the treasurer's office, and work as administrative assistant to U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt.

If elected, Holden said he will improve the MO-BUCKS program to eliminate political favoritism and use the office more to promote jobs and economic development. He has called for a jobs summit with new statewide elected officials between the general election and inauguration day to formulate a plan for bringing jobs to the state.

State Rep. John Hancock of St. Louis County and Pettis County Clerk Judith Moriarty are running for the right to succeed Roy Blunt in the secretary of state's office.

Hancock, 28, has served two terms in the Missouri House and has pledged to make the office more responsive to the needs of citizens. He has also outlined a detailed plan for getting young people involved in the political process and to increase voter registration and participation.

Moriarty, 50, who won a four-way Democratic primary while spending less than $20,000, contends that she won on a low budget because voters recognized her credentials. Like Blunt did in his campaign eight years ago, she contends that her 10 years of experience as county clerk is a solid background for the office.

Hancock has criticized Moriarty for not keeping records and registration rolls up to date in her county. He revealed last week that until this month, Moriarty had the names of 362 deceased residents on the Pettis County voter registration rolls. Some of the people had died 10 years ago.

Hancock suggested that it would be difficult to be the chief election official for the state if she is unable to manage registration books in a county of 36,000 people.

But Moriarty has been critical of Hancock for a high absentee rate in the 1992 session as he campaigned for secretary of state. She points out that Hancock rarely attended meetings of the House Elections Committee and the appropriations committee he serves on.