Congresswoman to announce election plans Monday

With the field of candidates for the Republican nomination for governor growing, U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson will consider her political future over the weekend before announcing her plans.

Emerson, a Cape Girardeau Republican, on Friday told a group of community and business leaders from the area that she will make the decision known Monday. But that didn't stop at least one person, Mayor Jay Knudtson of Cape Girardeau, from encouraging her to jump in or another person attending the meeting, Sikeston Department of Economic Development director Ed Dust, from asking her to stay out.

Emerson has been considering a bid since Gov. Matt Blunt announced he will not seek re-election. Emerson revealed her timetable during a meeting of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce.

The decision, Emerson said after the meeting, will come down to whether she wants to keep the Congressional seat she first won in 1996 or run for governor. Lesser state offices, such as lieutenant governor, do not interest her, she said.

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, also of Cape Girardeau, has already announced his intention to seek the GOP nomination for governor. So has state Treasurer Sarah Steelman of Rolla. Another prominent Southeast Missouri Republican, House Speaker Rod Jetton of Marble Hill, has also said he is considering a bid for the state's highest office.

As governor, Emerson said, she would have the ability to have a strong impact on issues such as health care, poverty, agriculture and infrastructure needs.

"It is just easier to do that on a state level," she said.

Emerson has been an advocate for drug reimportation from Canada and other health-care issues while in Congress, at one point voting against the Medicare Part D prescription drug program because it did not include reimportation or better controls on drug costs.

The decision about running for governor, Emerson said, would be based on the passion she feels for potential changes and also the logistics of campaigning while serving in Congress.

During the meeting, Emerson noted that her seniority in Congress is starting to pay off. With retirements and defeats of other Congressional Republicans, she expects to be the ranking member of an appropriations subcommittee if she returns for another term. If the GOP were to retake control of Congress, she would be a chairwoman of a subcommittee.

Dust was the first to weigh in with an opinion about Emerson's future. "We would love to see you as governor, but you can be more help to me where you are at."

Knudtson, however, wanted to make sure Emerson isn't swayed away from a bid based on sentiment or by a notion that she is disloyal to her constituents if she seeks a statewide post. "You do what you want," Knudtson said. "You have served us with pride and respect. I would love to see you as governor."

If she decides to stay in Congress, Emerson said, she will not be ready Monday to make an endorsement of any of the other potential candidates.

A new Internet blog was begun Thursday touting Emerson's candidacy. It played up her pro-life record, her support for the Second Amendment, support for tax cuts and ability to attract the votes of independents and moderate Democrats.

The blog has no connection to Emerson's campaign team, Emerson chief of staff Lloyd Smith said. "We didn't know anything about it" until told it existed by the Southeast Missourian, Smith said. "We hadn't seen it, haven't authorized it and don't know anything about it."

One area Republican, state Sen. Jason Crowell, said he will not join in the scramble for statewide offices that is following in the wake of Kinder's and Steelman's entry into the gubernatorial race.

And although Crowell is a close friend of Jetton and pays the speaker to be his political consultant, no potential candidate has asked for an endorsement, Crowell said. "I have not discussed it with anyone, no one has called me asking for their support and no one has solicited my advice about them running for governor."

rkeller@semissourian.com

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