HECKEMEYER, BILL HOPE TO WIN SEAT IN STATE HOUSE

BENTON -- In Scott County where the political races are usually over after the August Democratic primary, one campaign is still under way.

Sikeston Democrat Joe Heckemeyer is pitted against Sikeston Republican Josh Bill for state representative in Missouri's 160th Legislative District.

The seat became open when Democratic incumbent Dennis Ziegenhorn of Sikeston didn't seek re-election after serving 14 years in the House.

The district contains a large part of Scott County, including Sikeston, Miner, Salcedo, Crowder, Vanduser, Bertrand, Blodgett, Benton, New Hamburg, Kelso and about two-thirds of Scott City.

Heckemeyer, 28, won the Democratic primary with more than 77 percent of the vote, receiving almost 4,100 votes.

Bill, 44, was unopposed in the Republican primary, garnering 343 votes.

This is the first partisan election for both candidates, but both have connections to politics.

Heckemeyer has grown up watching his father's political career advance to the position of Scott-Mississippi County Circuit judge.

He is the son of Betty and Judge Tony Heckemeyer, who served in the Missouri House from 1965 to 1972.

Both men have Missouri roots.

Heckemeyer graduated from Sikeston High School in 1984, where he held several leadership positions in school organizations and athletics. He is an Eagle Scout.

Heckemeyer received his bachelor's degree in agricultural economics from the University of Missouri in 1988.

Bill opened his own insurance agency in Sikeston during July after several years as a partner in the Scott-Huff Insurance Agency.

Both men have worked with Rep. Bill Emerson.

In college, Heckemeyer served a legislative internship in Jefferson City for Rep. Dennis Ziegenhorn and a congressional internship in Washington for Emerson.

Bill has worked on Capitol Hill for three U.S. representatives, including Emerson.

And, he had worked for the Secretary of Health and Human Services as congressional liaison to the appropriations committees of the House and Senate.

Since college, Heckemeyer has been involved in agriculture, retailing and construction.

He operates a 2000-acre farm in Scott County with interests in cattle, row cropping and timber production.

He also has been actively involved as a Sikeston Jaycee in the annual Bootheel rodeo.

Bill's political experience has included a three-year term on the Sikeston City Council.

He is chairman of the Sikeston Northern Interchange Committee, which is promoting a link with Interstate 55 two miles north of town.

And, he has chaired the Highway 60 Committee, which promoted making that highway four lanes west from Sikeston.

Bill said he doesn't like the way the state is headed, adding: "We've been sold down the river."

He promises to rock the boat in Jefferson City.

Heckemeyer calls himself a conservative Democrat who supports a balanced budget and a government that does things for people who can't do for themselves.

One of his assets, he said, is his Missouri background and education.

"I am a product of the people which I seek to represent," he said.

In his campaign, Bill cites his 20 years of experience working in public affairs in a variety of capacities.

Bill is married to the former Patricia Huff of Sikeston, and they have three children, Sarah, 11, Catherine, 8, and Josh Jr., 1.