GOVERNOR RACE: BLUNT WANTS TO LEAD THE STATE INTO 21ST CENTURY

(Last in a series)

Roy Blunt sees a lot of similarities between the moods of the people in 1974 - the first time he ran for public office - and 1992 as he seeks the governor's office.

Running for the office of Greene County clerk, Blunt faced an uneasy mood in the post-Watergate era that featured strong distrust for politicians.

"People were mad. They thought they would punish some individuals, particularly incumbents, but then there was some confidence among people they would have control of the system again and everything would be all right," recalled Blunt.

"But I think in 1992 the same frustration is out there and the same interest in punishing some people. The difference between that election year and this election year is that there really is a concern among voters that government just may not work for them anymore. They may not be able to get control of it in 1992."

Blunt said he is fearful of that attitude and concerned people might view government as being only for the politicians. On the other hand, he believes this mood also offers an opportunity for a change in direction.

"I think this is a critical time for people to feel like, at the end of this election cycle, that they have gotten control of the government again," explained Blunt. "I think that is the great opportunity."

In his campaign for governor, the 42-year-old secretary of state is offering himself as the kind of state official who can be innovative, anticipate problems, and develop creative solutions through input from citizens.

"I'd like to see our state willing to break the mold, to see our state really at the forefront of becoming a model for better results and for government policies that make more sense," said Blunt. "I think there is a real chance for states to be the laboratories for change in this decade, and my goal is to have our state leading the way, rather than following the pack."

Like all other candidates running for office this year, Blunt senses a real frustration from people. It's a frustration he believes has been caused by politicians who are more concerned about holding onto their offices than tackling tough problems.

"I'm just as frustrated as anybody else by the fact that the government just doesn't do anything anymore," said Blunt.

"When some politician in Missouri says Hancock Amendment, desegregation, or federal mandate, what they are about to tell you is why they can't do anything about whatever it was you just mentioned that you'd like to have dealt with. I think people are sick and tired of that, and I don't blame them."

Although Blunt has spent most of his adult life in public office, he said he has never viewed public office as something to hold onto forever. He suggests that sentiment separates him from many other elected officials.

Blunt was born and raised in Southwest Missouri. He grew up on several farms in three different counties around Springfield.

After graduating from Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar and earning a masters in history from Southwest Missouri State, Roy Blunt focused on a teaching career. He anticipated getting a doctorate in history.

"The thought was always in the back of my mind that I might have an opportunity to serve in public office, but certainly it had never occurred to me the opportunity would come along when it did," said Blunt.

He was teaching history and government at Marshfield High School in 1973, when an opening developed in the county clerk's office. Kit Bond had just been elected governor, and had a policy of appointing the party central committee's nominee for vacancies in county office.

Blunt was just 23 at the time, and the Republican Central Committee had over 100 members. Still, the job he wanted was available, and Blunt gave it his best shot - meeting personally with many members.

There were six other candidates for the appointment, and as Blunt recalls, "everyone of them had more reason to think they would be recommended by the committee than 23-year-old Roy Blunt. But as it turned out, they recommended me to the governor, and I went to the courthouse as a county official."

In 1974, he won his first race, to a full four-year term, and was re-elected in 1978, and 1982. In 1980, Blunt lost a race as the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, but the campaign set the stage for his successful race for secretary of state.

"Nobody runs for lieutenant governor to be lieutenant governor and I didn't either," said Blunt. "I thought it was the best way to have the chance to run and serve as secretary of state."

He lost to Ken Rothman, the speaker of the House, but laid the groundwork for 1984. "I don't think I would have been elected secretary of state if I hadn't made that statewide race in 1980," observed Blunt.

He followed Jim Kirkpatrick in the office - a Democrat, who served 16 years and left the job as nearly a state government legend. Blunt drew high marks from capitol observers for making a good office better, an effort that enhanced his prospects as a gubernatorial candidate.

"We conducted an overall re-focusing of what happens here and I'm pleased with that," said Blunt. "We are doing some very innovative things."

He established the first employee day care center in state government, funded by employees; set up programs to encourage family involvement by employees that have been used in the private sector; and improved access to information and records compiled by the office.

"I think my accomplishments offer a good indication of the kinds of things that can happen in state government over the next few years if I have a chance to be governor," said Blunt.

Gov. John Ashcroft drew on Blunt to chair two statewide commissions, which Blunt suggests led him to start looking toward higher office. In 1985 and 1986, he co-chaired the Missouri Opportunity 2000 Commission, and in 1987 and 1988, chaired the governor's Advisory Council on Literacy.

"Those were great opportunities to talk about what we needed to be doing as we end the last decade of this century and get ready for another one," said Blunt. "In retrospect, it occurs to me that I was talking about exactly the kinds of things you should be talking about if you are going to run for governor during that whole period of time."

But Blunt said it wasn't until late last year that he finally decided to run.

"I was only interested in being secretary of state. It has been a great job and I have enjoyed doing it," said Blunt. "I absolutely did not come to Jefferson City with any thought that I either needed to be or wanted to be governor."

His wife, Roseann, and three children are supportive of his political efforts, says Blunt, and enjoy traveling with him. His oldest son, Matt, is 21 and a third year student at the Naval Academy; a daughter, Amy, is 19 and attending the University of Missouri-Columbia; and his youngest son, Andy, is 16.

To relax, the Blunt family spends time at the family farm at Strafford, east of Springfield. The family also enjoys playing games together. Blunt enjoys riding horses and reading books.

Asked to compare himself with the other candidates for governor, Blunt says he has known the other four major candidates for some time. "They all have good points as individuals. I have spent time with all of them over the last 10-12 years and can think of some really enjoyable time I've spent with these people."

But Blunt believes his approach is different. "I believe I'm the person who has been out there in the decade of the '80s talking about what ought to happen in the 1990s," he observed.

Blunt points out that 1992 offers an opportunity elect a non-laywer as governor, something that has not happened in 40 years.

Ultimately, Blunt said, "I think what voters will try to figure out in 1992, is which of these candidates is least likely to be part of business as usual and which are least likely to be part of politics as usual. I think I am least likely to be satisfied with either of those things and most likely to insist on significant change in the way we do things in state government."

Blunt said that is why he has released thoughtful position papers on a variety of issues, with specific approaches he would use in solving problems.

"This is a great decade to be governor; it always matters who the governor is," said Blunt. "But I think it may matter more in this decade than it has for a while, or will for a while, because of the potential out there to really change government."