CAPE NATIVE MAKES MARK ON POLITICAL SCENE AT EARLY AGE

Cape Girardeau native Jack Oliver is making big waves at a young age on the Missouri political scene. And, those big waves are even drawing attention at the national level.

"I just don't know of anybody ever in Missouri politics who has done what he has done by the age of 25," state Sen. Peter Kinder said. "It is just incredible."

Oliver's most recent campaign stint came last year during John Ashcroft's successful bid for the U.S. Senate. He served as Ashcroft's campaign director and oversaw fund raising and the overall development of the campaign. In September, when David Ayres moved in to direct the race, Oliver shifted to deputy campaign manager.

After Ashcroft won his Senate bid by a wide margin, Oliver was hired by the senator-elect to serve as his deputy chief of staff. In that capacity, Oliver is responsible for the oversight and management of five offices and about 25 staff members around Missouri, and coordinates all of Ashcroft's travel and activities in the state.

He also makes frequent trips to Washington, where he conveys the feeling of Missouri citizens to Ashcroft and his staff there to insure the senator stays in touch.

"He is probably the most enthusiastic communicator I have ever known," Ashcroft said. "He stays in touch as effectively as anybody I have ever seen."

Ashcroft said Oliver plays a major role in making sure he keeps in touch.

"I have not gone to the Senate to do Washington's agenda," Ashcroft said. "I have gone there to do Missouri's agenda."

Oliver's political activity began in 1986 when he served as a volunteer on Sen. Christopher Bond's first Senate race. Six years later, he was playing a major role in Bond's re-election campaign by serving as his chief fund-raiser and overseeing his campaign organization.

In 1988 he worked on John Danforth's re-election campaign, helping with grassroots organization as well as traveling with the senator. In the summer of 1989 he interned in Washington for Rep. Bill Emerson, and the following summer he interned for Bond.

After graduating from Vanderbilt University in May 1991, Oliver went to work in Bond's Jefferson City office until joining his campaign staff.

When Kinder went to the Missouri Senate in January 1993, Oliver joined him as administrative assistant.

"He was just invaluable to me," Kinder said. "I would come off the floor and he would tell me what's going on. He was just a great resource of information."

During the summer of 1993, Oliver worked with former Rep. Jack Kemp's Empower America in Washington.

Kinder said Oliver is notorious for working a crowd and knows everybody.

"He is well connected for a kid as young as he is," Kinder said. "He knows everybody all over the state who really makes things happen in Republican campaigns, and he knows a heck of a lot of them in Democratic campaigns."

Kinder said he realized how well-known Oliver was last November when he attended a GOPAC meeting in Washington with him.

One of the featured speakers was former Education Secretary William Bennett, touted as a top Republican prospect for president. Speaking to a crowd of Republicans from around the country in a speech telecast by C-Span, Kinder recalled that Bennett referred to just one individual in the room during his speech.

"Bill Bennett remarked, `I see that Jack is here from the Ashcroft campaign.'" Kinder said. That satisfied Kinder that Oliver had left an impression far beyond the borders of Missouri.

Oliver is praised by people he has worked with as being an extremely talented individual, a character and a workaholic.

Oliver, who just turned 26, comes from a family of attorneys dating back several generations. He is attending law school part time at the University of Missouri.

Eventually he hopes to get a law degree, and feels that a legal education will help him to better understand the process.

Oliver is excited about the opportunities his current job provides. He said things haven't slowed a bit since the campaign.

"I'm getting by on three or four hours sleep most nights, but I love this business," he said. "I feel very honored to have worked for some very great people. This responsibility John has placed in me is something I don't take likely and intend to do everything possible to see we provide the best services possible to the people of Missouri."

Oliver is trying to consolidate some regional offices of Ashcroft and Bond to reduce staff and improve services to citizens.

He is also trying to be accessible to people across the state, to give Ashcroft the most input possible.

Eventually, Oliver expects to return to a campaign, possibly even a national race.

"Right now my focus is on John, but at some point down the road I will be back in another campaign," he said.

He doesn't rule out the possibility of running for office himself some day.

Kinder thinks the things that make Oliver a strong campaign manager could also make him a successful candidate.

"He is big on personal contact," Kinder said. 'He seems to have just the right touch at the right time."