DENNIS AND QUIGLEY BACK NIXON

Sen. John Dennis of Benton, who is retiring this year after 16 years in the Senate, and Capt. Bob Quigley, a former police officer in Bridgeton who was in law enforcement for 24 years, gave their support to State Senator Jay Nixon in his race for Missouri attorney general. The three appeared at a press conference in Cape Girardeau last week.

The two attempted to counter ads being run by Republican opponent David Steelman suggesting that Nixon was soft on crime and was opposed to the death penalty.

Dennis, who has served with Nixon the last six years, remarked that "Jay Nixon is a fine gentleman and has always been for law enforcement," said the senator. "Jay Nixon has supported law enforcement full speed ahead."

Dennis served as Scott County sheriff for 24 years before his election to the Senate, and has been a noted advocate for law enforcement during his Senate career.

Quigley said voters "can rely on Jay Nixon to put honesty and integrity in the attorney general's office."

Referring to the TV ads, Quigley maintained that "David Steelman is lying. Jay Nixon supports the death penalty. The cops on the beat can trust Jay because he tells the truth."

Nixon took issue with other ads being run by Steelman, including ones that suggest he funneled $19 million in state contracts to family owned businesses. He noted that Steelman's contention has even been disputed by state agency heads appointed by Republican Gov. John Ashcroft.

"I understand rough and tumble politics, but when people just make things up that's going too far," declared Nixon.

He also took issue with claims about his position on the desegregation case. "Busing is a failed social experiment," said Nixon. "I feel the state should handle the case legally rather than politically ... we should settle it as lawyers, not demagogue on the issue."

But Nixon stressed his position does not mean the state should not seek a middle ground and a settlement in the best interest of Missouri taxpayers.

Nixon said he believes the state has fulfilled its obligation for capital improvements in the Kansas City school district and would seek an immediate end to that.

This is Nixon's second bid for statewide office. First elected to the Missouri Senate in 1986 from Jefferson County, Nixon was soundly defeated as the Democratic nominee against Republican U.S. Sen. John Danforth in 1988.

Nixon said he felt good about this race and the kind of support he has received to win a four-way primary and then to move into position to become the first Democrat elected to the attorney general's's office in 24 years.

"I feel much different today than I did on trips I made five days out in 1988," quipped Nixon.