ELECTION: CROWELL, NEUMEYER RACE FOR 158TH

A freshman legislator from Cape Girardeau should be poised for leadership roles before any changes associated with term limits occur, say the two candidates for the 158th district in the Missouri House of Representatives.

Both the Republican and Democratic candidates for the district agree that changes are coming in Missouri government, and both say they are ready to help Cape Girardeau benefit from that transition.

Term limits take effect in 2002 and require that all legislators serve a maximum of two consecutive terms.

Republican Jason Crowell will face Democrat Tom Neumeyer at the polls Nov. 7 in a bid for the 158th district seat.

The seat is open because Rep. Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau, is retiring after 18 years in the Legislature.

Debate next week

The two candidates will meet for a debate at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Glenn Auditorium at the Southeast Missouri State University campus.

Crowell said the rules and ranks of seniority are being thrown out the window.

"I think everybody who goes has got eight years," he said. "There isn't a learning curve anymore. You've got to hit the ground running."

Crowell cites his experience working for the Missouri Attorney General, Missouri Supreme Court, Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, and the late U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson as providing the knowledge needed in a state representative. He is a lawyer with Oliver, Oliver and Waltz.

While Tom Neumeyer agrees that term limits pose a unique situation for new legislators, he says his experience as a Cape Girardeau city councilman should prepare him for the job.

"Term limits are a double-edged sword," he said. "We will be losing 70 percent of our current legislators."

But Neumeyer said he has experience making good contacts and keeping a step ahead gained while serving on the City Council.

"I already know the intricacies of government, and this would be one level up based on the experience I already have," he said.

On education

Both men want local schools to retain control of money and management issues but would go about achieving it differently.

Crowell supports putting all the gaming money from bingo and lotteries into a "lock box" and requiring the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to disburse it on a per-pupil basis.

"Whether you agree or disagree about gaming, that money was supposed to be an enhancement for education and to go into the school classrooms, not for bureaucrats," Crowell said.

Neumeyer thinks education could be improved by paying teachers more and investing in more technical and vocational training for students.

"Teachers need to be compensated fairly so that teaching becomes a more desired career choice," he said. "We need to be anticipating now the large number of teachers who will be retiring in the next three to five years."

Neumeyer also supports tax cuts for families and the working class. Since his financial support comes from working families, his first priority would be offering them some help, he said.

On transportation

Highway construction projects are also central issues in this campaign. Both candidates stressed the need for safer and better roads.

Crowell would oppose any tax increase to fund highway projects but thinks the state should explore its options with toll roads. Money is available, but the state has to set priorities and make sure that roads are being built and the money isn't subsidizing mass transit or light rail systems, he said.

Neumeyer thinks the state has to be cautious in its approach so as not to jeopardize its bond ratings. He didn't offer any plan for how the state should pay for new road construction.

"I'm a fiscal conservative and we have a budget to meet and we can't go over that budget," he said.

Jason Crowell

Age: 28

Hometown: Cape Girardeau

Family: Single

Profession: Attorney with Oliver, Oliver & Waltz firm.

Affiliations: Lifelong member of Centenary United Methodist Church, Lion's Club, Big Brother Big Sister of Eastern Missouri board member, Southeast Alumni Association, Copper Dome Society, Booster Club, Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America.

Political endorsements: Endorsed by Missouri Right to Life, National Rifle Association, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, National Federation of Small Businesses, Associated Industries of Missouri, Associated General Contractors of Missouri, Rep. Mary Kasten, Mayor Al Spradling III, Sen. Peter Kinder, U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson.

Tom Neumeyer

Age: 50

Hometown: Cape Girardeau

Family: Wife, Teresa, and three children, Sylvia, Karel and Nathan.

Profession: Small business owner.

Affiliations: Member Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, Missouri Municipal League, founding member of Downtown Neighborhood Association, Cape Pride Coalition, Haarig Improvement Association, Southside Association, Cape Girardeau Library Foundation, past member of Greater Cape Girardeau Historical Association, Old Town Cape Inc., Cape Girardeau Central Democratic Committee, Community Pride Partnership, Ad Hoc Committee for River Campus Historic Preservation, Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Foundation Board, Capaha Antique Car Club, River City Rodders, Pontiac Oakland Club International, American Association of Retired Persons. Former member of Historic Preservation Advisory Board.

Political endorsements: None.

CANDIDATE Q&A

A state representative in Missouri is elected to a four-year term with an annual salary of $30,534. Duties of the job include proposing and voting on legislation and appropriating funds for state programs through the budget process.

What single issue is most important to you and would be your first priority in office?

Crowell: "Education, that's been the central issue. There are two things I would like to see done: The first is to take all the gaming money, whether bingo or lotteries or Prop C and put all of them in a trust fund lock box so that we could order DESE to disburse it to local districts on a per-pupil basis. The second is to revisit the foundation formula. We can do better than to classify districts as hold harmless."

Neumeyer: No single most important issue. "The universal concerns are education, health care and helping families."

Do you support or oppose a tax increase for highway construction?

Crowell: "I oppose any tax increase for highway construction whether it be a tax on gasoline or tax on income or a sales tax. But I'm open to the idea of toll roads and think it's one that can be explored."

Neumeyer: "I can't say what decision I would make without seeing what would be proposed and what would be taxed and who would be paying for it."

How do you believe Missouri should spend its share of the tobacco settlement?

Crowell: "We have to make sure it's realized and that we're not out spending it until we have that surplus. We need more tax credits for employers to provide insurance and more preventive and women's health care. We can offset taxes for Missourians because we've increased the amount that Missourians pay in taxes in the past decade. We don't need to spend that tobacco money on more bureaucratic growth."

Neumeyer: "Part of the money should be used to relieve the concerns of our seniors who are crippled by the skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs. One vehicle may be a tax credit so that they don't choose between eating and prescription drugs."