JUDGE WILL FILE AGAINST EMERSON

BENTON -- Supporters cheered as Circuit Judge Anthony J. Heckemeyer stepped down from the bench Monday to run as a Democrat for Congress.

About 60 supporters packed the courtroom to hear Heckemeyer announce his candidacy. He wore his black judge's robe when he entered the courtroom with his wife, Betty.

He took off the robe as he announced he was resigning after 17 years as circuit judge of the 33rd Circuit to run for the 8th District congressional seat held by Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, a Republican.

"I leave with a lot of pride," Heckemeyer said of his years on the bench. "I am in the top of my profession."

Heckemeyer will officially file today in Jefferson City. While there, he also plans to submit his letter of resignation to the governor's office.

Gov. Mel Carnahan is expected to appoint a lawyer to fill the vacancy within the next few weeks.

A special election would be held this fall to fill the remainder of the unexpired term, which expires Dec. 31, 2000.

Heckemeyer was elected circuit judge in a special election in 1980. He was re-elected in 1982, 1988 and 1994.

In announcing his candidacy for Congress, Heckemeyer, of Sikeston, stressed his Bootheel and farming roots. The 59-year-old Heckemeyer is a third-generation farmer. "I was raised a cattleman," he said.

Heckemeyer also has owned and operated several wholesale and retail businesses over the years.

"When it rains on your beans it rains on mine," said Heckemeyer.

He said Emerson, who is completing her first term in the House, doesn't understand agriculture.

Heckemeyer said Emerson is from the Washington, D.C., area, and is out of touch with the region she represents. "To truly represent the people, you have to be like them," Heckemeyer said.

Republicans have held the 8th District House seat since 1980. Bill Emerson held the seat until his death in 1996. His widow, Jo Ann Emerson, succeeded him, winning election to a two-year term in November 1996.

She plans to file for re-election today in Jefferson City.

Heckemeyer said Emerson is a congresswoman in name only. The real work, he said, is done by her staff.

Heckemeyer said Emerson's chief of staff, Lloyd Smith, really is in charge.

Heckemeyer said many federal programs don't work. He blamed Congress and federal bureaucrats for putting regulatory burdens on states, local governments and small businesses.

"The largest special interest in this country is Washington itself," he said.

Heckemeyer listed a number of problems in the region.

He said the Bootheel is home to four of the poorest counties in the state. Two of the counties are among the poorest in the nation, he said.

Many Southeast Missouri residents are faced with no future and no jobs, he said.

Many of the Bootheel's small towns have all but disappeared, said Heckemeyer. "Everything south of Cape is dying."

Heckemeyer said many Bootheel families can't afford health insurance.

The tax dollars go to Washington, but Missouri doesn't receive a fair share of highway funds, he said. "We ship our money to Washington, and we get back 80 cents on the dollar."

"Washington is pushing a $5 trillion deficit." Today's children will be saddled with paying off that debt, he said.

Heckemeyer said more vocational education programs are needed to train people for future jobs in business and industry.

He said the responsibility for such training rests largely with the state, not the federal government.

Heckemeyer stressed his legal and legislative experience.

He graduated form the University of Missouri with both a bachelor of science degree in agriculture and a law degree.

An Army veteran, he was elected to the Missouri General Assembly at the age of 25 in 1964.

He served four consecutive terms. He served as majority whip in the Legislature and was vice chairman of several committees. He was named an Outstanding Legislator by the Sears Foundation and the Missouri Wildlife Federation.

He created the Sikeston Regional Children's Services Inc., a not-for-profit corporation that provides counseling, remedial education, clothing and medical services for children and families in need.

He served as president and secretary-treasurer of the Missouri Trial Judges Association.

He also is a member of the board of directors of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, the oldest judicial organization in the United States. He has chaired the organization's training committee, which had a budget of over $3 million. As chairman, he was responsible for the training of more than 50,000 judges, police and probation officers, teachers and other professionals across the nation.

Heckemeyer has been involved in various civic groups in the Sikeston area. The Sikeston Chamber of Commerce named him "Man of the Year" in 1989.

The Heckemeyers have five children. One of their sons is state Rep. Joe Heckemeyer, D-Sikeston.

AT A GLANCE

Name: Anthony J. Heckemeyer

Age: 59

Hometown: Sikeston

Political affiliation: Democrat

Position: Circuit judge, 33rd Judicial Circuit. Elected in special election, 1980; re-elected in 1982, 1988 and 1994.