MISSOURI RIGHT TO LIFE ENDORSES PURCELL

An anti-abortion group has endorsed state representative candidate Jay Purcell for the 158th state House seat in Cape Girardeau.

Purcell is the second of three Republican candidates for the House seat to be endorsed by the Missouri Right to Life Political Action Committee.

Earlier this month, the group endorsed Jason Crowell.

Now, officials with Missouri Right to Life say either Crowell or Purcell would be "an effective voice for the protection of human life."

Patty Skain, executive director of the Missouri Right to Life Political Action Committee, said Thursday that the group initially endorsed only Crowell because of concern that endorsing two candidates would split the anti-abortion vote.

Skain said her group doesn't want the third candidate in the GOP primary contest, Cape Girardeau businessman Stan Wicks, to win the August election. The winner will face Democrat Tom Neumeyer in the November election to succeed retiring state Rep. Mary Kasten.

Skain said Missouri Right to Life officials were concerned at one point that Wicks was "a strong candidate."

She said the group has re-evaluated the situation and doesn't believe Wicks is "a serious threat" to win the election.

Skain justified her group's political actions. "The bottom line is that Missouri Right to Life exists to get pro-life candidates elected. We have to make some tough decisions sometimes."

Skain said the group opposes Wicks because he indicated in a questionnaire that he wouldn't support abortion bills that were too restrictive.

The group, she said, is opposed to all abortions, except to save the life of the mother. But she said the group will support candidates who also favor exceptions in the case or rape or incest.

But Wicks said he has always opposed abortions. "I don't think abortion should be a form of birth control."

But Wicks said he would oppose any law that would prevent abortions to save the life of a mother or in the case of rape or incest.

Wicks said the candidate questionnaire was "very misleading." He accused Missouri Right to Life of "playing politics."

Wicks doesn't believe it is a two-man race. "The only endorsement I am really concerned about is the individual voters of District 158."

The latest endorsement came after Purcell contacted Missouri Right to Life officials and questioned the group's endorsement of Crowell.

Both Purcell and Crowell say they are strongly opposed to abortion rights.