EX-STATE LAWMAKER FROM STE. GENEVIEVE TO GET TOURISM JOB

A former state representative responsible for some important tourism legislation will take over the No. 2 spot at the Missouri Division of Tourism.

Herb Fallert of Ste. Genevieve Fallert was nominated deputy director of the Division of Tourism by fellow Democrat Sen. Danny Staples of Eminence. The nomination will be formally approved by the Senate today and Fallert is expected to begin work immediately.

Fallert served six terms in the Missouri House of Representatives from 1983-94. His seat is now held by Republican Pat Naeger, who represents Ste. Genevieve and Perry counties.

"He did a lot for tourism when he was in the House," Staples said. "He's a dynamic person. I think he'll do a good job as assistant director and I hope he becomes director someday."

Staples originally pegged Fallert for the director's position. Although Fallert didn't get it, he will be in charge for a while as the director's job remains vacant. A search committee is still working to fill the position.

Tourism in Missouri is big business, second only to agriculture in terms of money it generates in the state.

"Our biggest goal is we hope to make tourism No. 1 in the state," Fallert said. "We don't have a long way to go to reach that goal."

Fallert says Missouri should be promoted as a whole instead of focusing just on components.

"The key is to try to get the whole state involved," he said. "Missouri is a very dynamic and diverse state and we need to sell the whole state, not just the big cities."

When Fallert first came to the House, he was appointed to the Tourism Committee and a year later was elevated to vice chairman. In 1986 he became chairman.

Chief among his accomplishments was passage of House Bill 188 in 1993. Taking effect in 1995, it earmarks a percentage of tax money generated by tourism for the Division of Tourism.

The division was allocated more than $11 million in the 1995 budget. More than $3 million of that came from HB 188.

Fallert said that money goes to promoting the state, particularly more rural areas.

"Smaller communities do not have the technical help they need nor the dollars to do it," he said. "We hope to pump money back into smaller areas."

Also while in the House, Fallert wrote the amendment to allow riverboat gambling, which was adopted by Missouri voters in 1992.