NONCONVENTIONAL WAYS OF BAILEY MEAN CHANGE

To see Wendell Bailey in action, you would think he was born to be a politician. His outgoing personality and colorful style is a trademark.

But it was not until 1970, when he had a dispute with the city of Willow Springs over building a road in front of his business, that Bailey felt the urge to become politically active.

"I'm a business major and had no indication I ever wanted to be involved in politics," explained Bailey. "My first race was for city council because I wanted to build a road and the current city council wouldn't build it."

Bailey, then 30 years old, was elected, built the road, and two years later defeated the high school basketball coach and president of the school board to win a seat in the Missouri House.

"I wasn't a political groupie. I was not one of those kids who grew up in a political world," Bailey said. "I just wasn't that type of kid. I was more basketball, football and chase girls."

But some could say Bailey's political roots run even deeper than that first local dispute more than 20 years ago.

"I suppose my mom, when she named me for Wendell Willkie (the unsuccessful Republican candidate for president in 1940) was the genesis of all this," he said.

Bailey attributes his outgoing style to his mother's influence. "I think my mom's got that word called gumption," said Bailey, who notes his father was an abusive, heavy drinker. "Rube's (his 79-year old mother) got a lot of spunk."

Bailey prides himself on being fiercely independent, in touch with the people, and being a tireless worker.

His two victories for state treasurer were by narrow margins, and if he emerges the winner in next week's Republican primary, it's likely to close race.

Asked about the "maverick" label many try to place on him, Bailey admitted he's unconventional. But, he's quick to add, "I am predictably nonconventional.

"Missouri is projected to have the lowest job growth of the 50 states the next five years," he said. "Predictable programs don't work that's what's wrong with Congress."

Bailey has tried to distinguish himself from the other gubernatorial candidates. He formally announced his candidacy in December 1990, far ahead of other candidates; staked out a pro-choice position on abortion and offered a detailed, first-position paper on abortion and right-to-die issues; and limited campaign contributions to $100 per person.

To illustrate the contribution limit, Bailey is driving around the state in an old Checker taxi cab with the words: "Not For Hire" emblazoned on the sides.

Bailey said he's distinctly different from the other four major candidates for governor.

"I think I've got a really uncanny sense of ethics that a lot of people don't agree with," he said. "I don't take the towels out of hotels, and I don't cut people special deals in the state treasury."

In making tough decisions, Bailey says he often draws on the wisdom of John Wayne.

"I tell my staff, what would John Wayne do in this decision making process pilgrim. All of us have this image of John Wayne, and you don't cut any deals if you are John Wayne."

Bailey said he would employ a unique leadership style as governor. "I want to hang a sign on the door that says ~`Under New Management,'" he said.

If elected, Bailey said that his first day in office he would work 24 hours non-stop, conducting meetings and conferences, to illustrate that things indeed were different.

"It's not that you are going to accomplish that much in the first 24 hours, but you set the stage that we're going to work hard, that there's nothing wrong with hard work, and that things are going to be different," he said.

As governor, Bailey said he would engage in "management by objective" to attain statewide goals such as reducing the school dropout rate and increasing employment opportunities.

Without hesitation, Bailey claims his greatest accomplishment of 20 years in public office is "busting the Central Trust Bank cartel on state money."

Bailey said that when he took office, all the state's money was deposited in the bank although Central Trust was never required to bid for it.

The bank contributed $128,000 to Tom Villa, his Democratic opponent in 1984, and $70,000 to Bob Holden, his challenger in 1988.

"One bank has contributed $200,000," Bailey said. "I made them bid the money. They contributed to every political race in Jefferson City except Wendell Bailey's."

When he took office, Bailey said Central Trust was charging the state $3 million year in fees. After the banking services contract was bid, fees dropped to $988,000.

Bailey also had a run-in with Gov. John Ashcroft over the process used to award banking services to Central Trust for the Department of Revenue.

"So, I've rolled a few hand grenades," he said. "I've torn up a few traditions. Sometimes I feel like the Ross Perot of state government."

His close races for public office are a source of pride with Bailey. He beat Villa in 1984 with 50.36 percent of the vote, although Villa outspent him. "I'm not afraid of money," Bailey said. "I don't want it; too many strings."

"I'm not a team player," he added. "I'm not a get-along, go-along."

Bailey also prides himself on his enthusiasm. "I'm a terribly competitive person," he said. "That's why we have the number one treasury in the United States of America. I don't want that any other way."

Bailey said Missouri has the highest percentage of funds invested daily than any other state in the nation, according to a survey of the National Association of State Treasurers.

"We are 108 percent invested, and that's because we sell the disbursement float," he said. "If we write a check today, we don't quit investing the funds."

He noted that the state is drawing interest on approximately $80 million it has written checks on.

Recalling his first campaigns for public office, Bailey says he ran an "I listen" campaign, saying he would vote the will of the people.

He served eight years in the Missouri House, and as a member of the appropriations committee, worked with former Southeast Missouri State President Mark Scully on developing a funding formula based on credit hours, rather than what the institution got the previous year, he said.

Bailey also takes credit for legislation that led to voters passing a constitutional amendment to combine the departments of highways and transportation.

In 1980, Bailey emerged from a field of 21 candidates to win a congressional seat.

"Many people considered I didn't have a chance," recalled Bailey. "But we ran well everywhere. "In a multi-candidate race, you don't need to beat everybody everywhere."

Redistricting in 1981 cost Missouri one congressional seat and Bailey and U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson wound up in the same district. Rather than face Emerson, Bailey moved to Jefferson City and challenge Democrat Ike Skelton in the fourth district.

"I got 46 percent of the vote and had only 28 percent of my old district," said Bailey, adding that Republicans lost 34 House seats that year. "In anything like a decent year, we would have defeated the incumbent congressman. Even though we ran our guts out, we didn't win. I was heartbroken, but I wasn't ready to quit."

Two years later, Bailey was elected state treasurer.

While Bailey is enthusiastic about his political career, the downside is being away from the family. He's missed a lot of big moments in his children's lives.

He has three children: Mike, 28, a New York banker who was recently married; John, 25, who owns the Pontiac-GMC franchise in Willow Springs Wendell once had; and Jill, 24. Bailey's wife, Jane, is a kindergarten teacher.

Bailey was encouraged to run for other vacant state offices this year by party leaders and Ashcroft. Secretary of state was mentioned most often.

"I do not want to be secretary of state," Bailey said. "I want to legalize work in Missouri. I want to repeal the prevailing wage law. I want to allow Medicaid mothers to work. I want to reform workers compensation. I want to put the prisoners to work. You can't do any of that as secretary of state.

"I've been here 20 years. I have no business at all, with my temperament and philosophy of government, to hang around. I don't want to hang around Jefferson City."

If he loses, Bailey is uncertain what the future holds, but his days in public office likely will be over.

"If you ask me today where I will be the day after the election, I'll tell you that I will either be in the governor's mansion or back home in Willow Springs."