NEWCOMERS COMPETE FOR 156TH DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE

DEXTER - Two political newcomers are waging what will be a short campaign for state representative in the 156th district.

Jerry Seabaugh, of Route 3 Dexter, was chosen as the Republican nominee Jan. 14 and Marilyn Williams, of Dudley, was picked by the Democrats Jan. 15. The two will face off in a special election Feb. 19.

The candidates are seeking to replace Sen. Jerry Howard, D-Dexter, who resigned his seat in the Missouri House after winning a special election for senator Dec. 4.

"It will be a short campaign and I have a lot of territory to cover, but I will try to see as many people as possible," observed Seabaugh recently. "I've got some real good people serving on my committee who have been active in campaigns before, and I think it will go well."

Williams added, "there is so much you have to do in any campaign, whether it is 30 days or a whole season. There are a lot of basics to take care of and it will be hard to make contact with all the people. I will have to rely on friends and supporters and hope that voters realize in 30 days I can't meet them all face to face."

On Jan. 16, Seabaugh made the trip to Jefferson City to officially file for state representative. He had an opportunity to meet with area Republican legislators and several statewide officials, including Gov. John Ashcroft.

Williams made the same trip on Jan. 17 to file, and also met with Democratic Party leaders and legislators from this part of the state.

Before deciding to seek the legislative district committee's nomination, Seabaugh said he had to give the matter a lot of consideration.

"I really had not thought too much about politics before, but they needed an opponent on the Republican side," he observed. "I felt the opportunity was here and the issues were here and decided to go for it."

In his campaign, Seabaugh plans to focus on issues such as education, the need for new jobs, and assisting the elderly.

Williams, who was active in the Young Democrats several years ago and once served on the Stoddard County Democratic Central Committee, had considered running for office a future possibility. Once Howard was elected to the Senate and friends began suggesting she run, Williams said she took some time to make sure this was a good time to run.

"I am the type of person where if I do something, I want to do it well. I wanted to make sure my business and personal matters were all taken care of," said Williams. "I feel like I have leadership ability and want to help people. I have a concern for the people and their welfare. I think we all tend to sit around and fuss about our government and what they are doing, but too many of us do not take part like we should."

Both are planning to spend full time on the campaign trail.

Williams admitted it was hard to concentrate some on her campaign because of the developments in the gulf and trying to keep up on that.

The 156th district includes most of Stoddard County, the more populous areas of Bollinger County, and the Puxico area of Wayne County.

Seabaugh has ties to Bollinger County, something he is hoping will be an advantage in the campaign. He was born and raised in the county and his father, the late Truman Seabaugh, was mayor of Marble Hill in the early 1970s. He still has three brothers, his mother, grandmother, and a number of cousins living in Bollinger County.

"A special election will have a low turnout, and hopefully, people in Bollinger County will come out for me," said Seabaugh.

Williams lives on a family farm near Dudley, which her husband Rick operates. They have a grain farming operation and are also engaged in aqua culture. She and her husband own the Fiddlers Restaurants in Dexter and Malden and co-own the Fishermans Net Restaurant in Cape Girardeau with her parents.

"I feel like I have a really good relationship with the majority of the people in the district and have a lot in common with them," explained Williams, referring to her small business and agriculture experience.

She and her husband have two sons, Richard, 15, and Roy, 10. Williams has served as president of the Dexter Chamber of Commerce for three years, and has been involved in a number of civic activities.

In 1986 Williams was named Small Business Person of the Year for the eastern district of Missouri by the Small Business Administration.

Seabaugh is employed at Autry-Morlan Chevrolet-Cadillac in Dexter as a salesman and lease manager. Before joining that company in 1983, he worked 13 years for Missouri Illinois Tractor in Cape Girardeau.

Seabaugh left Bollinger County in 1969, and lived near Jackson before moving to the Dexter area in 1977.

He is active in his church and a number of civic organizations, including the Dexter Lions Club, Masonic Lodge, and Eagles. He is a member of the 135th engineer group of the Missouri National Guard, based in Cape Girardeau.

He and his wife have three children, Melissa, 20, married to Gary Ashley; Anthony, 18; and Timothy, 15.