More state reps looking at Senate for their political future

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Following a trend started by term limits, nearly two dozen current or former state representatives are already looking to move up to the Missouri Senate next year.

While the House of Representatives was virtually swept clean of veterans when term limits first kicked in for last year's elections, the changeover in the upper chamber in taking place in two waves because only half of the Senate's 34 seats are on the ballot during each election cycle.

So far 22 people with House experience, excluding sitting senators who once served in the lower chamber, have formed campaign committees for potential Senate runs in 2004. Seven of those are incumbent representatives. Most of the others were term limited last year.

The Missouri Constitution generally restricts individual to eight years of service in each legislative chamber.

House Majority Floor Leader Jason Crowell of Cape Girardeau, and former state Rep. Pat Naeger of Perryville are both raising money for probable bids for the seat currently held by Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau, who is term limited. A Republican primary campaign between Crowell and Naeger appears likely.

Naeger, 38, is executive vice president of Health Care Pharmacy and Health Care Equipment and Supply Co. in Perryville. His maximum eight-year House tenure ended last year.

Naeger said he misses serving in the Missouri Legislature and is leaning toward seeking the Senate post. He will make a final decision within the next three weeks.

"I wasn't ready to quit, and the Senate is obviously the next opportunity," Naeger said.

Crowell, 31, is a lawyer with the Cape Girardeau firm of Oliver, Oliver and Waltz. He is in his second two-year House term and first as majority leader, one of the chamber's top leadership posts.

While he hasn't set a timetable for making a decision, Crowell said there is a "very, very high probability" he will run for the Senate.

"It is something I'm leaning toward, but not something I'm ready to officially announce yet," Crowell said.

Another area lawmaker, state Rep. Dan Ward, D-Bonne Terre, is considering running in an open Senate district that covers counties along the northern and western rims of Southeast Missouri. Ward, 52, was first elected to the House in 1998.

State Sen. Bill Foster, R-Poplar Bluff, holds the region's remaining Senate district, which is centered in the Bootheel. No candidates have yet emerged to challenge him for re-election.

At present, Senate Republicans hold a 20-13 majority over Democrats. There is one chamber vacancy that was last held by a Democrat. The party is expected to retain the seat in an upcoming special election.

Of the 17 seats on next year's ballot, eight are currently served by Republicans and nine by Democrats. Term limits will create four open Republican seats and six open Democratic seats.

Of the 12 new senators elected last year, nine came from the House.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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