EMERSON GETS GOP BACKING IN SPECIAL ELECTION

POPLAR BLUFF -- Despite Richard Kline's Republican primary win, his party will back Jo Ann Emerson for the 8th District congressional seat.

Members of the 8th Congressional District Republican Committee met at the Holiday Inn in Poplar Bluff Tuesday night. With a vote of 41 to zero, they nominated Emerson as their candidate in the upcoming special election.

The death of U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson created the need for a special election, which was set by Gov. Mel Carnahan for Nov. 5, the same day as the general election. The winner will serve less than two months before the general election winner takes over in January.

Area Republican leaders hope Emerson, who attended the meeting, will do both. Donna Lichtenegger of Jackson, 8th District Republican chairwoman, said Emerson was the clear choice to put on the special election ballot.

"This vote recognizes her ability to run a strong, successful race in the general election," Lichtenegger said.

In addition to the decision that placed Emerson on the Nov. 5 special election ballot, Republicans at the committee meeting voted to endorse her Independent candidacy in the general election.

Bill Emerson died after the deadline to file for the August primary election. When his wife decided to run, she had to get on the general election ballot as an Independent by petition.

Kline, a candidate from Gipsy, won the Republican primary. He hoped to win the Republican nomination for the special election too, and he spoke at Tuesday's meeting.

"God and I won this primary with $1,012.30," Kline said. "With or without your help, we will win this election."

Emily Firebaugh is the Democratic candidate and Greg Tlapek the Libertarian candidate in the general election.

The 8th Congressional District Republican Committee is composed of county Republican committee chairmen and vice-chairmen in 26 counties and of chairmen and vice-chairmen from each state legislative and senatorial district in the 26 counties.

Emerson said she was pleased to have the group's endorsement, along with that of the Farm Bureau, the National Rifle Association, the National Federation of Independent Business and others.

"I feel strongly about keeping this seat in common-sense, conservative hands," Emerson said. "I want to continue Bill's legacy of service to the people."