MILLER CONSIDERS ENTERING RACE FOR MISSOURI SENATE

JACKSON - Cape Girardeau County Clerk Rodney Miller said Monday he will spend the next few weeks talking with people about the possibility of seeking the Democratic nomination for state senator from the 27th District.

Miller said he enjoys being county clerk but wants to take some time to explore a possible Senate race.

He said: "I really like my present job as clerk and obviously enjoy being involved in government. This provides an opportunity to deal with people in a different manner than what I've done before."

"I'm exploring it and would hope to have a pretty fair evaluation within three weeks. I'm not going to leave this hanging," he said. "I want to see what people think about me as a candidate for state senator and whether they feel I could be someone to give them honest, hard work and fair representation."

Since Sen. John Dennis announced in July that he would be retiring, Miller said he has received some encouragement to run for the Senate, and had been quietly pondering the race. He had been waiting to see the final makeup of the district and who else might be interested in running.

After talking it over with his family, Miller said he wants to make some calls around the district to see what others think.

"I want to give it an honest chance to see if people are interested in my candidacy," said Miller. "It is an open seat and it is out there for an individual to show what he can do. It's a straight forward honest campaign; it would not be a campaign to try and knock someone out, but offers a chance to talk about what I could do as senator.

"I think a candidate from Cape County with a good record has a good opportunity to win. I am familiar with other people in different counties and I believe I have contacts and people who could support me in those counties."

Miller said he is concerned about the costs of running a campaign that could reach $100,000. "There is always the question of raising enough money," he said. "You have to have money to get your name before people, but, if you get out and try to meet people one on one, it may not require as much money as someone who is planning to try and do it all just with media."

The only candidate who has filed so far is Sikeston Mayor Bill Burch, a Democrat. Former state Rep. Betty Hearnes of Charleston is expected to file this week and Cape Girardeau City Councilman Hugh White is considering a race.

On the Republican side, potential candidates are state Rep. Mary Kasten of Cape Girardeau, Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau, and Cape County Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep.

Candidates have until March 31 to file.

In looking toward a possible Senate race, the 51-year old Miller said he has experience in five major areas that he would have to deal with as a member of the Senate: education, government, insurance, business, and agriculture.

Miller, who lives on a farm near Millersville, is a native of Cape County and graduated from Jackson High School and Southeast Missouri State University. He has a master's degree in administration from the University of Missouri.

Miller taught and coached at the high school and college levels and also worked in sales before being elected county clerk in 1978. In 1990 he was re-elected to his fourth term.

During most of his tenure as clerk, Miller has been active in the Missouri Association of Counties, serving as state president in 1988. Last year he served as president of the Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities.

For several years Miller has served as chairman of MAC's insurance committee, which has worked toward solving problems facing county governments on costs and availability of liability, health and worker's compensation insurance.

Miller worked for legislation to help county governments as a board member of MAC. He said that experience would help him in the legislature.

"I think probably the work I've done both as county clerk through MAC, the County Clerks Association, and other areas of experience that I have, gives me a pretty good background to be state senator," said Miller. "I am familiar with what happens in Jefferson City, have worked on legislation, and I am familiar with many of the legislators. I would not be walking into a situation cold.

"If I decide to run, I think my track record will speak for itself."