HOPEFULS TO FIELD QUESTIONS IN POPLAR BLUFF

Eighth Congressional District candidates will gather Wednesday night in Poplar Bluff, offering the campaign's first opportunity to size up the field.

The Missouri Farm Bureau's political action committee, FARM-PAC, has invited all candidates on the primary ballot to the interview session.

"We've issued invitations to all candidates," said Terry Buker, director of information for the Missouri Farm Bureau, headquartered in Jefferson City.

"Also invited are any independent candidates who may announce their candidacy between now and the Wednesday meeting.

His reference was at least in part to Jo Ann Emerson, who Wednesday morning will announce whether she will be an independent candidate for the congressional seat her late husband, Bill Emerson, held. He died June 22.

Missouri Farm Bureau officials have publicly pushed the idea of an independent candidacy. A candidate needs 3,700 signatures of registered voters in the district to get his or her name on the November election ballot. Petitions must be submitted to the secretary of state's office by July 29 to get on the November ballot.

Candidates have been asked to answer questionnaires on national legislative issues important to the Farm Bureau.

The FARM-PAC will use the interview process to consider any endorsements.

FARM-PAC is a political action committee composed of trustees from the counties in the congressional district. Trustees are selected from their respective county by the Farm Bureau membership.

The program starts at 5:30 p.m. with a dinner at Western Sizzlin Steak House on Highway 67 North in Poplar Bluff.

Six candidates have declared as 8th District candidates on the primary ballot.

Democrats already on the ballot are Emily Firebaugh. Firebaugh, 54, owns and operates a timber business. She formerly published newspapers in Fredericktown, Farmington and Park Hills. Firebaugh, a native of Cape Girardeau, attended Cape Central High School and Southeast Missouri State University.

She will face Gene Curtis of Matthews and Thad Bullock of Cape Girardeau in the August primary election.

Curtis, 58, is a real-estate broker and insurance agent at Matthews. He attended Matthews High School and Southeast Missouri State University.

Bullock, 78, is a Cape Girardeau businessman and musician making his eighth run for the U.S. House of Representatives. Bullock, 78, captured the Democratic nomination once, in 1992, narrowly winning in a field of six candidates.

Emerson easily defeated Bullock in the general election. In 1994, Bullock came in a distant second in the primary to James L. Thompson of Bourbon.

Greg Tlapek is the Libertarian Party candidate. Tlapek, 38, is making his second run for the 8th District seat. In 1994, he finished behind Emerson and Democratic challenger Thompson.

The two Republican candidates on the ballot are E. Earl Durnell and Richard Kline.

Kline, 56, of Gipsy, said he started his campaign in February 1995 with the understanding that his chances of winning were "slim." But after months of campaigning, Kline has upgraded his prospects and hopes to win the primary.

Durnell, 60, of Cabool, competed against Emerson in 1992. He said Emerson's death changes the complexion of the primary. He feels his chances in the primary are "very good."

Durnell, who said he is concerned about the budget deficit, NAFTA and the Freedom to Farm Act, received 31 percent of the primary votes in 1992.