EMERSON STAFF DIGESTS NEW DISTRICT LINES

Now that Gov. John Ashcroft has signed a bill drawing new boundary lines for the state's nine U.S. House districts, members will be making a special effort to become familiar with needs and problems of new territory they will be representing.

The 8th Congressional District's Bill Emerson will be adding two counties - Texas and Wright - and losing Ste. Genevieve County and the Sullivan Township of Washington County.

Lloyd Smith, chief of staff to Emerson, said Tuesday the changes in the district alignment will have an effect on how the congressman tries to provide services to constituents.

"We gave up one town and one county and gained two counties, one of them (Texas) being the largest geographic county in the state," said Smith.

Emerson's main office is in Cape Girardeau and a satellite office is located in Rolla. A mobile office also travels around the district to give constituents an opportunity to consult with a member of Emerson's staff.

Smith said the idea of another satellite office is a possibility, but said no decision has been made at this point.

"We have talked fairly extensively about expanding services one day per week or having a person in a county all day every other week, but we're not sure yet," explained Smith. "We will have to modify the way we do business."

Technically, Wright and Texas counties will not become part of the 8th District until the 103rd Congress convenes in January 1993.

Smith explained that House rules allow Emerson to send press releases and mail into the new counties, however, he cannot be reimbursed for travel into the counties until the next session of Congress. All travel into the counties would be regarded more as a campaign visit rather than an official visit.

Smith said Emerson will probably go into the two new counties during the congressional recess in August. Since the present 8th District borders the new counties, Emerson is generally familiar with many of the issues and problems of those areas.

Until the next session of Congress, Emerson will continue to serve Sullivan and Ste. Genevieve County. Smith noted that he has already talked with staff members for U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt, who will take over the county in 1993, about projects in Ste. Genevieve, including flood control.

"At the end of the term we will turn over our files on outstanding cases and some briefing papers on what the hot issues and projects are in those counties," said Smith.

Emerson's transition is nothing like it was after redistricting in 1981. That time, Emerson lost Jefferson County and had about seven new rural counties added to the district.

Ashcroft signed the redistricting bill on Monday and Smith was on hand to witness the signing. "I think everybody was pleased that a compromise was reached and the issue did not have to go to the courts," observed Smith. "There are no split counties, and that is good too. This is one of the times where everybody worked together, even though at times it looked like it would all fall through."

Smith stressed the new map appears to be fair to everyone. "I don't know that anyone benefited politically from it, but I don't think anyone was injured by it either," he remarked.

In his remarks at the bill signing, Ashcroft praised the General Assembly for passing a fair plan rather than having it go to the courts.

"I commend the members of the General Assembly for working hard to reach agreement on redistricting, thus fulfilling their constitutional obligation," the governor declared.

"In addition to having districts that are concise and contiguous, I'm delighted that no rural counties are divided into multiple districts. This will make constituent services easier for the congressional representatives and diminish confusion among voters," Ashcroft said.