CAPE BUSINESSMAN JUPS INTO 8TH DISTRICT RACE

Surprise 8th District congressional candidate David Zimmer filed for office Monday on the Natural Law Party ticket.

The Cape Girardeau businessman is one of six Missouri candidates running for congressional seats on the Natural Law ticket. The party also has candidates running for state treasurer, lieutenant governor and secretary of state.

Zimmer, 43, is president of MVP Communications. He said the Natural Law Party candidates for president and vice-president, John Hagelin of Iowa and Mike Tompkins of North Carolina, are good friends of his, but they didn't convince him to run. Zimmer has liked the Natural Law Party's platform for some time.

"Many of the things we have set forth are different solutions to current problems, including positions on crime, education and taxes," he said. "The gridlock in the two-party system really hurts people."

The same basic laws that govern nature dictate the Natural Law Party's platform, he said. Among the party's goals is a flat tax. Zimmer said he would release additional information about his party and his candidacy later this week.

If elected, Zimmer wouldn't become a "career politician," a promise he said he would be willing to put in writing.

He and his wife, Karin, have no children, but Zimmer said his family has been blessed with success in business and he could use his know-how in Congress.

Missouri could have four new parties on the Nov. 5 ballot if petitions submitted to Secretary of State Bekki Cook contain enough valid signatures. On Monday, the deadline for new parties to file, petitions were submitted from, not only the Natural Law Party, but the U.S. Taxpayers Party and the Green Party.

The Reform Party, best known for presidential candidate Ross Perot, submitted petitions on July 19.

State statutes provide for new parties to be placed on the statewide ballot if signatures are gathered from 10,000 registered voters of Missouri. State law also requires declarations of candidacy be submitted for any candidates the new parties want to run on their tickets.

Also in the 8th District, candidate Jo Ann Emerson of Cape Girardeau submitted petitions as an independent.

The Secretary of State's Office has until Aug. 20 to complete the signature verification process. Copies of petitions will be sent to local election officials for their review.