PRIMARY: RECOUNT IN 8TH BEING CONSIDERED

The candidate who lost the Democratic nomination for Congress in the 8th District by 211 votes to Thad Bullock, said Friday he likely will request a recount by the secretary of state's office.

"There is no animosity; I just think the election is too close to let go," said the candidate, James L. "Jay" Thompson of Bourbon. "I would be optimistic that if we would have a recount I would win."

On Friday Thompson had attorneys reviewing the issue of whether to ask for a recount.

Since Bullock's margin was less than 1 percent, a recount would be automatic if Thompson requested it.

"I have to file a petition saying that's what I want. It's in the hands of my attorneys now, but it is almost certain I will ask for one," said Thompson.

Because of the closeness of the final vote, the state would pay costs of conducting the recount.

Bullock, a retired Cape Girardeau businessman making his sixth bid for Congress, finished first in a six-candidate field Tuesday to become the Democratic Party's nominee. Bullock piled up 17,770 votes.

Shannon Russell of Gideon, an unsuccessful candidate in 1984, placed a distant third with 11,352 votes. Other candidates were: Jon Kiser of Piedmont, the Wayne County prosecutor, 10,854; Dean Burk, a teacher who lives near De Soto, with 8,519 votes; and Johnny Dover, a factory worker from Bell City, who ran four years ago. He received 7,919 votes this time.

Thompson said one reason he believes he can win in a recount is because he sought absentee ballots from people living and working in other countries, such as military personnel. He said he does not think other congressional candidates sought out such voters.

Thompson, who retired after a 20-year Navy career, said the special absentee ballots for people living overseas will have to be counted, even if they are received after the election, if they were postmarked before election day.

Thompson said he was not sure how many of those ballots had been sent in or would be coming in, but they could help him.

The candidate said he also has heard of some possible irregularities in at least one county that needs to be investigated.

"I think I owe it to the people who voted for me to give it my best shot," said Thompson. "If there is a chance, and I think there is, then we should take it. We need the best possible break in the fall to go up against the highly entrenched and well-financed incumbent.

"There are 17,599 people in the 8th District that agree with me that I am the best candidate," he said. "I'd like to represent the people of the 8th District, and I'm optimistic that's the way it is going to be."

U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, seeking his seventh term this year, easily defeated a challenger for the Republican nomination Tuesday.