ONLY TWO FILING DAYS REMAIN FOR '94 OFFICES

With just two days remaining for candidates to file for offices that are on the ballot in 1994, no doubt there is a lot of political talk occurring this weekend around the state of Missouri.

Incumbent judges, legislators, congressmen, and county officials are wondering whether they will remain unopposed or draw further opposition. And, some potential challengers are spending the weekend meeting with supporters and trying to determine whether 1994 is their year to enter the political arena.

Generally, filing is heaviest the first few days, and then there are occasional filings before another flurry on the final two days.

Filing opened on Feb. 22 and will close at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

By midday Friday, 477 people had filed with Secretary of State Judi Moriarty for offices ranging from the state legislature, to Congress, circuit judge, and state auditor.

Filing for Cape Girardeau County offices has been heavier than in some recent years, primarily because of open seats created with retiring incumbents. There will be five Republican primary races for county offices, and one Democratic primary so far.

In Jefferson City Monday and Tuesday, most members of the General Assembly will be dropping by Moriarty's second floor office in the Capitol Building where candidates file and names are posted. All 163 members of the House are up for election this year and half of the 34 senators are on the ballot.

There are also hundreds of county offices to be filled around Missouri this year, and just as state legislators will keep an eye on the secretary of state's office, officials in the state's 114 county courthouses will be keeping a watch on county clerks' offices for potential opponents.

Primary elections on Aug. 2 will reduce the field of candidates from each party to one and set the stage for the Nov. 8 general election.

In Cape County, the most attention is focused on races for the county commission where there are three Republican primary contests and one Democratic contest.

Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep and 2nd District Associate Commissioner E.C. Younghouse have announced plans to retire; 1st District Associate Commissioner Larry Bock is challenged in the GOP primary by Fred Wilkinson, of Millersville. No Democrats have filed against Bock.

Three Republicans have filed for each of the other two county commission positions. Running for presiding commissioner are Mike Kasten and Gerald Jones of Jackson, and Howard Tooke of Cape Girardeau. There are no Democrats in the presiding commissioner's race yet.

In the 2nd district, Joe Gambill, David Patterson, and Public Administrator John Ferguson have all filed for the Republican nomination. On the Democratic side Andy Juden, Jr. and City Councilman Doug Richards are in the race.

The 2nd district includes all of the city of Cape Girardeau except for Ward 17; the rest of the county is in the 1st district.

There are also Republican primary races for recorder of deeds and Division IV associate circuit judge.

Darlene Bonney of Jackson, and Cheryl D. Stoffregen of Cape Girardeau, are seeking the Republican nomination for recorder and the right to challenge Democratic incumbent Janet Robert.

Attorneys Jeff Dix and Allen Moss are competing for the nomination of the Republican Party in Division IV. The lone Democratic entry in that race is Pete Statler of Jackson. Incumbent Democrat Marybelle Mueller is retiring.

There are two other races assured for the general election, both for judicial positions. In the 32nd circuit of Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and Perry Counties, Democrat John Grimm, who was appointed in December to fill an unexpired term, is challenged by Republican Benjamin F. Lewis.

Lewis, who has served one term as Division III associate circuit judge, is giving up that spot to challenge Grimm. Filing so far to succeed Lewis are Republican Gary Kamp of Burfordville, and Democrat Gary Robbins of Jackson.

Five incumbent Cape County officeholders have no opposition with two days remaining to file. Unopposed so far are Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle, Auditor H. Weldon Macke, and Collector Harold Kuehle, all Republicans; and County Clerk Rodney Miller and Circuit Clerk Charles P. Hutson, both Democrats.

Cape County's two state representatives -- Mary Kasten of Cape Girardeau and David Schwab of Jackson -- are both without opposition in the Republican primary or the November general election.

Eighth District U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, who recently announced plans to seek an eighth two-year term in Congress, has drawn only token opposition thusfar from three Democrats and a Libertarian.

The Democrats are Thad Bullock of Cape Girardeau, a perennial candidate and 1992 Democratic nominee; Gene Curtis of Matthews; and Don Hager, an attorney from Farmington. Greg Tlapek, a native of Cape Girardeau, has filed on the Libertarian ticket against Emerson.

Seven Democrats, five Republicans and one Libertarian are in the race to succeed retiring Republican U.S. Sen. John Danforth.

The three top Democratic candidates are U.S. Rep. Alan Wheat of Kansas City, Jackson County Executive Marsha Murphy, and State Rep. Steve Carroll of Hannibal. The only major GOP entry thusfar is former Gov. John Ashcroft.

There are two candidates in the race for state auditor: incumbent Republican Margaret Kelly and State Sen. Steve Danner, a Democrat.