HULSHOF IS GOP NOMINEE IN 9TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

COLUMBIA -- A Southeast Missouri native, who gained statewide recognition for his handling of high profile murder cases for the attorney general's office, has been chosen as the Republican candidate for Congress in the 9th district.

Kenny Hulshof, a native of Charleston who served as an assistant public defender and prosecuting attorney in Cape Girardeau County, was picked Monday night in Bowling Green as the GOP challenger to U.S. Rep. Harold Volkmer of Hannibal. Volkmer, a Democrat, is seeking his 10th term.

Rick Hardy, a political science professor at the University of Missouri, announced June 6 he planned to withdraw from the race, which gave the 9th district Republican committee an opportunity to select another candidate.

Hardy, who almost defeated Volkmer two years ago, was the only Republican candidate. Hardy left the race for health reasons.

Hulshof, 36, won a provisional endorsement of the committee and will be formally approved as the party's nominee after the Aug. 2 primary. Hardy withdrew too late to have his named removed from the primary ballot.

The committee took its action to give its candidate more time to prepare for a campaign against Volkmer.

Hulshof, who lives in Columbia, was one of a dozen potential candidates for the nomination.

Two years ago, after Joe Moseley was elected to the state Senate creating a vacancy in the Boone County prosecuting attorney's office, Hulshof tried for an appointment to fill the vacancy. But he was not chosen by the Boone County Republican Committee.

But in looking for someone to fill the GOP ticket for Congress, Hulshof seemed to have just what party leaders were looking for. He was chosen on the first ballot.

"Everybody was looking for someone who can beat Harold Volkmer, someone with the attitude and charisma of Rick Hardy. That turned out to be Kenny Hulshof," said Bob Kallash, of Troy, the 9th district GOP chairman.

Hulshof believes his experience as a prosecutor and handling major criminal cases will help him in the campaign this fall.

"The victims of these violent crimes had to have a voice," Hulshof said in remarks to the Republican committee. "The polls seem to show crime is the No. 1 issue for voters, and who has any more expertise? Certainly not our congressman."

Hulshof said Volkmer is vulnerable because of his vote last year in favor of a tax increase, which passed the House by a two-vote margin.

Hulshof grew up on a farm in Mississippi County, which should help him in the rural 9th district. It covers 20 counties in central and northeast Missouri, and a part of St. Charles County.

He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi and his law degree from there in 1983. He started working for the public defender's office in Jackson, and then in September of 1986 joined the prosecutor's office in Cape County.

Three years later he was hired as an assistant attorney general to work in the special prosecution unit based in Jefferson City. In that role, Hulshof has traveled the state handling major criminal cases.

Just last week, Hulshof was in Ste. Genevieve handling the prosecution of Joshua C. Kezer, accused in the Nov. 8, 1992 shooting death of Angela Lawless at Benton. After a five-day trial, the jury deliberated less than four hours before finding Kezer guilty of second degree murder and armed criminal action.

Some of his biggest cases have been convictions of James R. Johnson, who was sentenced to death for the 1991 killings of three law officers and a sheriff's wife, and Ray and Faye Copeland, sentenced to death for the slayings of five drifters.