GOVERNOR CANDIDATES WILL ATTEND; FORMER ACTOR LEADS LINCOLN DAY EVENT

CAPE GIRARDEAU - All four Republicans who are often mentioned as potential candidates for governor in 1992 are expected to be in attendance Saturday to woo the support of party faithful at the 21st annual Cape County Lincoln Day.

The banquet will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the A.C. Brase Arena Building. This year's event will be dedicated to the memory of Virginia Perdue. For 30 years Perdue, who died last year, served as secretary of the Cape County Republican Committee and was active with the women's club which sponsors Lincoln Day.

The keynote speaker Saturday will be Congressman Fred Grandy, from northwest Iowa, who is an actor turned politician. Grandy is best known for his portrayal of Gopher on the TV series "The Love Boat."

Grandy will be introduced by Eighth District Congressman Bill Emerson, who is serving his 11th year in the U.S. House.

The cast of GOP gubernatorial candidates will include Secretary of State Roy Blunt, Attorney General William Webster, State Treasurer Wendell Bailey, and Auditor Margaret Kelly.

Gov. John Ashcroft is prohibited by the state constitution from seeking a third term.

Bailey is the only one to have officially announced his candidacy, however, Blunt and Webster have been raising funds for their race and plan to announce later this year. The three are all serving their second terms in the offices they hold now.

Kelly, elected last year to a third term as auditor, has occasionally been mentioned as a candidate for governor and has not ruled out such a race. She has also been mentioned as a possible GOP candidate for state treasurer in 1992.

Kelly became the first woman ever to hold statewide office in 1984 when she was appointed to fill a vacancy in the auditor's post by then Gov. Christopher Bond.

All four will speak briefly to the gathering, which will draw over 500 Republicans from around Southeast Missouri. Cape County Lincoln Day has been for many years the largest regional Lincoln Day celebration in the state.

"I think we'll end up with another good crowd and have another outstanding Lincoln Day," said Candy Swingle, president of the Republican Women's Club. The turnout could top 600 by Saturday, noted Swingle, although she concedes that some may skip the banquet to watch the Southeast Missouri State Otahkians competing in the NCAA Division II Final Four at the Show Me Center.

Gov. Ashcroft and Senators Bond and John Danforth will be unable to attend the event.

Congressman Grandy is serving his third term, and in January was appointed to the powerful Ways and Means Committee, which is responsible for all federal revenues.

During his first two terms, Grandy served on the committees for agriculture; ethics; and education and labor.

The 42-year old Grandy is a native of Sioux City, Iowa and graduated with honors from Harvard University in 1970. He also worked as a legislative aide and speech writer for former Congressman Wiley Mayne, of Iowa.

Before running for Congress himself, Grandy appeared in several successful off-Broadway plays and two films. He began playing his role as Gopher in 1975.