KINDER POSTS A VICTORY IN SENATE RACE

By making heavy inroads into Scott County, Republican Peter Kinder captured the hotly contested 27th District State Senate race Tuesday night.

Kinder, 38, who made his first bid for public office, offered himself as a citizen-legislator and a new face in government. By contrast, Kinder portrayed former state representative Betty Hearnes of Charleston as typical of lifetime politicians who had failed the people at all levels of government.

With most precincts reporting, Kinder piled up 35,529 votes, compared to 28,810 for Hearnes.

The Democratic candidate carried only her home Mississippi County, which she won by a margin of 4,077 to 1,553.

Kinder carried his home Cape County by a wide margin - 17,244 to 10,636. However, the turning point was Scott County where Hearnes had to win big to capture the Senate seat.

Kinder, who waged an aggressive campaign in the traditionally Democratic county, outpolled Hearnes there 8,060 to 7,872. The Republican candidate also carried Perry, Madison, and Bollinger counties.

The associate publisher of the Southeast Missourian, Kinder said he believes the issues-oriented campaign he waged made the difference. Kinder attempted to outline differences between he and Hearnes on education, economic development, term limits for elected officials, and other issues.

Kinder also focused on his work with the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority, where he has been active since 1984 and presently serves as vice chairman of the port's board of commissioners.

Hearnes, the 1988 Democratic nominee for governor, is the wife of former governor Warren Hearnes. She served five terms in the House from Mississippi County and north Scott County. She captured the Democratic nomination in August by taking about 58 percent of the vote in a three-way race.

Kinder was not opposed in the GOP primary.

Kinder, speaking to a crowd of supporters at the Holiday Inn Tuesday night, cited his success in Scott County as a key turning point.

"I think we have had a clear victory in the city of Sikeston. We got 49 percent in my mother's hometown of Benton," said Kinder.

He said he won in excess of 60 percent of the vote in Cape and Perry counties and did well in Madison and Scott counties.

"It appears we have stood up in the face of a tornado nationwide," he said, referring to the fact that 1992 was a tough year for many Republican candidates.

Kinder said he believes his race shows that when Republican principles are "articulated stoutly" the voters will respond.

"I think the problem with the national ticket is we spent four years shrinking from these principles and we are paying the price," he said of the Republican Party.

Kinder said he believes his advocacy of citizen legislators as opposed to career politicians struck a responsive chord with voters.

Hearnes, who like Kinder watched the returns come in at the Holiday Inn, criticized her opponent for his use of negative advertising. Hearnes contended the negative ads were effective in helping Kinder overcome a lack of name recognition.

"I thought that positive ads would win because the people in the district knew me," said Hearnes.

In the campaign, Hearnes focused on her experience in the Missouri House and her accomplishments there.

But Kinder successfully countered Hearnes' claim by challenging her record and suggesting that it represented big spending and ineffectiveness.

The present 27th District senator, Democrat John Dennis of Benton, did not seek re-election after serving 16 years.

Redistricting last year moved heavily Democratic New Madrid County out of the district and replaced it with Perry and Madison counties. The shift changed the district from one that leaned Democratic to one that leaned Republican.