PARKER SEEKS SECRETARY OF STATE POST

When Don Parker announced his candidacy for secretary of state on June 7, he indicated that he hoped to make half of the 114 counties in Missouri within six months. But last week, Parker's visit to Cape Girardeau County and several Southeast Missouri counties put him over the halfway point one month ahead of schedule. He views that fact as an indication his campaign is going well and starting to take off.

In November of 1990, Parker was elected auditor of Clay County, which includes part of Kansas City, making him the first Republican elected to county office there in 18 years.

That feat caught the eye of some Republican Party leaders and they suggested the 52-year-old Parker take a look at statewide office. After reviewing his background and experience with the duties of the secretary of state, Parker concluded this was the best job for him to seek.

Incumbent Roy Blunt plans to seek the GOP nomination for governor next year.

"A Don Parker Secretary of Stateship is important because I provide a rare combination of political and business experience, established leadership, knowledge of government, and maturity of judgment," he said.

Parker's first venture into politics came in 1984 when he was recruited by party leaders on the last day of filing to run for the State Senate. At the time he was a management consultant.

After coming up short in the Senate race, Parker decided to use what he learned, take classes in campaign techniques, and expand his business to include campaign management as well.

In running for county auditor, Parker noted, "I tried to practice what I preached" in defeating an incumbent Democrat. "Others looked at that race and said this is the kind of skill it takes to run statewide."

Parker, a C.P.A., stressed he has three things to offer Republicans as they decide which candidate to nominate for the general election. Parker explained that he has political expertise and knows how to run and win even in Democratic strongholds; he has professional job skills directly related to the job he is seeking; and he has the stamina to run a long campaign.

Parker works at the courthouse Monday through Wednesday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., and on Thursday from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. He then hits the campaign trail for a long weekend.

Having a strong business management and accounting background is essential to running the secretary of state's office, Parker contends. Of the 165 employees, half of them work daily with business registration or management and 40 percent involves managing and publication of records.

Parker noted the office is responsible for enough files that if stored in 4-drawer cabinets they would run five and a half miles long.

Only 10 percent of the job focuses on the elections process, and even much of that is management and record keeping, he said.

"Everything in the office is a natural attribute of an accountant," declared Parker.

"Because of my management consulting background, I know how to look at improved efficiencies; I offer government a fresh pair of eyes," he added. "I have not been in government so long that I am entrenched in the system."

Parker said he would work with a committee of CPA's that have to use the forms businesses are required to complete for the office, to see if there is a way of improving them. He would also try to find ways where reports could be electronically filed with the office.

Several other Republicans have expressed an interest in seeking the nomination for secretary of state and Parker anticipates being part of a crowded field. By getting an early start, stressing his qualifications for the job, and making contact with as many Republicans as possible, Parker believes he can emerge from the pack.

At this point, Parker said most Republicans are looking toward the governor's race rather than other offices on the 1992 statewide ballot.

"There is a lot of enthusiasm for governor, and frankly, most have not thought much about the other statewide offices," said Parker. "It's not that nobody is interested, it is just that most of their focus is on governor right now."