GOP candidate forums planned in Mo.'s 8th District

SALEM, Mo. (AP) -- The public will have a chance to hear from some of the Republicans hoping to succeed Rep. Jo Ann Emerson in the U.S. House.

Republican candidate forums are scheduled Thursday evening in Salem and Jan. 17 in Cape Girardeau.

Emerson, who was re-elected in November, plans to resign by February to take a job as director of National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Political party committees are to nominate candidates for a special election to succeed Emerson in southeast Missouri's 8th Congressional District.

Eddy Justice, chairman of the Republicans' 8th Congressional District Committee, says that 17 people have expressed interest in seeking the nomination.

He says many of the potential candidates have made phone calls, sent letters or personally visited with members of the Republican congressional district committee that will make the selection.

The Southeast Missourian will have a reporter at tonight's forum. Watch for a story tonight at semissourian.com and in tomorrow's Southeast Missourian.