FILING PERIOD SHORTER DUE TO NEW STATE LAW

JACKSON - Candidates considering making bids for county, state or federal offices in Missouri next year will have a shorter filing period because of a new state law.

The law, passed earlier this year, cuts the filing period in half, from a starting point of mid-January running until the last Tuesday of March, to a six-week period that begins Feb. 22 and ends March 29.

The Missouri primary election date remains the same -- the first Tuesday after the first Monday in August, which next year will fall on Aug. 2. The general election next year is Nov. 8.

Candidates for county offices file at the county clerk's office in their respective counties, while candidates for state or federal offices, or offices that span more than one county such as circuit judgeships, must file in Jefferson City with the secretary of state.

The only statewide races in 1994 will be for auditor and U.S. senator, which will focus attention on county races.

In Cape Girardeau County, 11 offices will be on the ballot. At least two of those will be open seats with incumbents planning to retire.

Two Cape Girardeau County seats in the Missouri House of Representatives also are on the ballot, along with a circuit judgeship to be decided in 1994.

The two county offices that will be open next year are for presiding commission and Division IV associate circuit judge.

Gene E. Huckstep, who next year will begin his 16th year as presiding commissioner, has announced earlier won't seek re-election to a fifth term.

Associate Circuit Judge Marybelle Mueller, who has held her post since 1975, also will retire at the end of this term. Huckstep is a Republican and Mueller a Democrat.

Another vacancy could occur for associate circuit judge in Division III if Republican Benjamin F. Lewis decides to vacate that post and challenge Democrat John Grimm for Division II circuit judge in Cape, Bollinger and Perry Counties.

Grimm was appointed by Gov. Mel Carnahan to fill the unexpired term of Judge A.J. Seier, and next year will seek election to a full six-year term. Lewis, who has served one four-year term as associate circuit judge, has indicated he might run for circuit judge.

Other incumbents have not yet formally announced their plans, though most are expected to file again.

Both associate county commission seats are on the ballot next year, with candidates running for two-year terms. The 1st district commissioner is Larry Bock, first elected in 1992, and the 2nd district commissioner is E.C. Younghouse, who took office in 1987. Both are Republicans.

The two senior members of the Cape Girardeau County courthouse also are on the ballot next year -- County Collector Harold D. Kuehle and Auditor H. Weldon Macke -- both Republicans.

Kuehle was first elected in 1966, while Macke was elected to his post in 1968. Both offices have four-year terms.

Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle, a Republican, is expected to file for a third four-year term next year.

Three veteran Democrats up for election next year are Circuit Clerk Charles P. Hutson, County Clerk Rodney Miller, and Recorder of Deeds Janet Robert.

Hutson was first elected in 1974, Miller won his first term in 1978, and Robert took office in 1977. All three offices have four-year terms.

Also on the ballot are Cape County's two state representatives: Republican Mary Kasten of Cape Girardeau, first elected in 1982, and Republican David Schwab of Jackson, who won his first term in 1988.

Eighth District U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, is expected to seek an eighth two-year term next year.

State Auditor Margaret Kelly, a Republican who first took office in 1984, is planning to seek another four-year term in that job. No major Democratic candidates have emerged yet for that post.

With the retirement of John C. Danforth after 18 years in the U.S. Senate, there will be a wide open race for that post next year. Former Gov. John Ashcroft is the only major Republican candidate in the field.

Three Democrats have announced for the Senate so far: State Rep. Steve Carroll of Hannibal; Jackson County Executive Marsha Murphy; and Gerald Ortbals, an attorney from St. Louis.

Several other Democrats also are expected to enter the primary race for the Senate seat, including U.S. Rep. Alan Wheat.