KASTEN TO SEEK SEVENTH TERM IN MISSOURI HOUSE

JEFFERSON CITY -- Contending that government, families and communities are facing tremendous challenges, state Rep. Mary C. Kasten filed for re-election to a seventh term in the Missouri House of Representatives Monday.

"The role of our elected leaders must be more than working to solve governmental problems in legislative committee meetings and casting votes for our districts on the House floor," said Kasten. "Our role must include working in the community to provide answers from the community rather than from the government.

"I am committed to this level of service to the people of my district and hope that I will have the opportunity to continue to serve as the working representative from Cape Girardeau."

Kasten said she believes solutions to problems are not found in government, but rather in the community and its people.

"Solutions can be found by helping one another -- we must make government programs work to make people independent rather than dependent."

First elected in 1982, Kasten serves on the House Budget Committee that oversees the state's $12 billion budget, is the senior Republican member on the Children, Youth and Families Committee, and is secretary of the House Republican Caucus. She also serves on the committees for higher education and appropriations for health and mental health.

Kasten is seeking re-election from the 158th District, which includes all of the city of Cape Girardeau except for Ward 17.

The representative explained that welfare reform is one of the most pressing issues facing government.

Said Kasten: "As a member of the budget committee, the cost of welfare and social related programs is staggering, and the cost will continue to increase. Over the last three decades, government has given huge amounts of funding to these areas, yet we have an increase in the number of people on welfare, the use of drugs in our schools is up, teen-age pregnancy has not declined, and violent crime has increased, especially by our young people."

In dealing with welfare reform, Kasten said change must come "in the form of commitment to re-working the system, providing incentives to work and promoting a work ethic rather than a welfare ethic, and encourage independence rather than dependence. Most important is that we need coordination of existing resources to encourage cooperation and eliminate duplication. Innovation and commitment are the answer, not always more dollars."

To help deal with welfare reform, several years ago Kasten founded the Community Caring Council in Cape Girardeau, which has grown to over 125 members and represents more than 60 government and private agencies.

The council coordinates services to children and families to eliminate duplication and work for more efficient use of resources. The goal is to make families more self-reliant.

Kasten's program was one of the first of its kind in the state of Missouri and she has helped other communities set up similar councils. Kasten has also shared her concept at several national meetings and at congressional hearings.

"I founded the Community Caring Council with the goal to help families help themselves through coordinating local government agencies and targeting resources," explained Kasten. "We also look for gaps in services that can hurt families."

Kasten said the council has expanded its programs to meet needs and noted that recently they started an advocacy program for children who have been abused and neglected.

"Over the last few decades, the easy way has been to let big government spend money to solve our family and community problems, rather than us make the commitment of time and local resources," summed up Kasten. "I feel that I have that obligation as an elected leader to make change happen in my own community and I feel that the Community Caring Council is a start."

Kasten is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University and was an elementary school teacher. Before her election to the House, Kasten served 20 years on the Cape Girardeau Board of Education, including several years as president, and as president of the executive committee of the Missouri School Boards Association. She also served on the Governor's Advisory Council on Vocational Education.

At the time of her election to the House, Kasten was serving on the board of regents at Southeast Missouri State. She was the first woman appointed to the board.

She is a member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church, a member of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce where she chairs its Governmental Affairs Committee, the Civic Center board, the Wednesday Club, Southeast Missouri Medical Alliance and a member of several other community boards. She is a member of PEO, and an honorary member of Delta Kappa Gamma.

She is married to Dr. Melvin Kasten and they have three children: Dr. Mark Kasten, Mike Kasten, and Meg Kasten. They have two grandchildren.