DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE DECRIES 'MUDSLINGING'

While wrangling and behind-the-scenes body blows have characterized the Republican campaign for the 158th District seat leading up to Tuesday's primary election, unopposed Democratic candidate Tom Neumeyer so far has had the luxury of not needing to say anything bad about anyone.

Neumeyer, who describes himself as "the average Cape Girardean in contrast to the probable opponent," decries some of the tactics that have been used in the Republican primary campaign.

"I'm so sorry to see that race degraded to the low level of mudslinging it has come down to," he said Friday at a campaign rally. "I'm looking forward to having an honorable, ethical campaign."

Neumeyer got to know more of his supporters Friday as more than 60 people ate barbecue and talked about issues with him at the South County Park.

If elected, Cape Girardeau's 2nd Ward councilman promised first to "thank the people of Cape Girardeau for hiring me to fill a seat that belongs to them."

Keeping as much local control as possible over education and health care will be the two most important issues of his campaign, he said. "I'm a proponent of the Patients Bill of Rights so patients and doctors can make their own medical decisions and not have critical decisions made by a file clerk. Children should also have the right to quality health care no matter their means," he said.

Democratic Committee Chairman Rick Althaus seemed not quite aggrieved to watch Republicans Jay Purcell, Jason Crowell and Stan Wicks wounding each other during their primary race.

"It's a shame," he says, not hiding a smile.

To win in November in the district represented for nearly 20 years by Republican state Rep. Mary Kasten, Neumeyer will need the votes of independents and cross-over Republicans, Althaus said. Certain qualifications are required, he added.

"He has to be a known entity in the community, and fairly moderate and mainstream on the issues."

That's Neumeyer, Althaus said. "He's a city councilman and he's also no flaming liberal on the issues. And he has a track record of public service and business experience."

Neumeyer operates a photography studio, and he and his wife, Terri, have a bed and breakfast. Terri Neumeyer is the principal of the Parkview State School in Cape Girardeau and the New Dawn State School in Sikeston.

"He's the best qualified candidate we've had in ages to represent Cape Girardeau," she said of her husband when introduced to the crowd.

Neumeyer estimates that whoever the Republican candidate is will have 10 times as much as the $4,000 he currently has available to spend heading into the post-primary campaign. The people who came to the barbecue were dropping their donations for him into a jar. They also were signing up for volunteer work and taking bumperstickers.

"They've got the money, we've got the votes," Neumeyer told his supporters.

Mike Smith, a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, is helping with Neumeyer's campaign even though he lives in Scott City and can't vote for the candidate. The Cape Girardeau Trades and Labor Council has endorsed Neumeyer.

"He is for the working person," Smith said. "His agenda is our own. We will help him help us."

Union workers are concerned about the number of non-union workers who are coming into the area, he saidl "In my opinion they're doing sub-standard work for sub-standard wages. That's not progressive for anybody," Smith said.