ECONOMY SEEN AS TOP ISSUE IN ILLINOIS RACE

David Phelps and Jon Musgrave agree on one thing: the economy is the top issue in the 118th House District of Southern Illinois.

Phelps, the 118th District representative since 1985, says the region's growth "is just about to take off."

"I'm more excited about what's happening today than I have been at any other point in my career," said Phelps, a Democrat. He cited development of a four-lane highway between Marion and Harrisburg, efforts to reinvest in infrastructure, and improvements for tourism.

Republican Musgrave, who is seeking his first political office, said Phelps has ignored a need for jobs throughout the region, concentrating instead on major hubs. "We need jobs in Ozark and Tunnel Hill, not just Marion and Harrisburg," said Musgrave.

Musgrave claimed Phelps has been ineffective in developing local attractions as tourist sites. Musgrave, who founded Goshen Traveler, a bimonthly tourism guide, in 1991 has introduced a 22-page economic recovery plan that calls for decentralization of the state park service, creation of a Southern Illinois Park Service and realignment of tourist sites within state agencies.

Specifically, Musgrave calls for merging the State Fair Division of the Department of Agriculture with the Department of Conservation. he also favors a tourism department that would oversee the state's museums, Illinois Historic Preservation Society, and the Bureau of Tourism.

Musgrave also proposes creation of a Southern Illinois Park Service that would be in charge of developing park land in the region. Musgrave said several of the region's natural wonders are ignored or undeveloped as tourist attractions.

Phelps, however, says many of the proposals in Musgrave's plans have been proposed and are in the works. Some have been delayed while the state handles its fiscal crisis, he said.

"We passed legislation in 1986 to try and identify and purchase historic sites along the Ohio River for development into a state park," said Phelps.

Phelps, who says the region has relied too much on coal and agriculture, wants to make the area more diverse.

"We have emphasized building infrastructure," he said. "Only last week we announced a $1.8 million federal-state partnership that will extend water service to Stoneport, Carrier Mills and New Burnsides. This will generate some construction jobs in these areas."

Phelps said funds had already been approved for the four-lane highway between Marion and Harrisburg. "This will create numerous construction jobs," said Phelps.

"We also feel we're on the ground running on promoting tourism," he said. "We have more state parks in this district than any other in the state, and we have already approved more than $9 million for promoting tourism. Right now we can't utilize those funds; they have to be used to balance the budget."

Phelps cited the proposed Olmsted Dam as a project that will provide more than 2,000 jobs.

"We know this is a federal project," said Phelps. "But it took a lot of state and local efforts to get this project going, and it is going.

"We feel that the groundwork has been laid for a lot of area improvements roads, tourism and infrastructure," he said. "A lot of the work during my tenure in office has been the building process. Now, even though the economy is down, these things are getting ready to explode with potential. I think we're going to start reaping some benefits."

Phelps, of Eldorado, is an area native. He graduated from Eldorado High School, Southeastern Illinois Community College and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. He was teacher from 1969 to 1973. Phelps and his brother operated a music company at Eldorado for a number of years.

Musgrave, also an area native, is a graduate of Mt. Vernon High School and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

He worked as a reporter and business editor for the Marion Daily Republican from 1989 to 1991, when he founded the Goshen Traveler.