RACES DEVELOP FOR LEGISLATIVE POSTS

JEFFERSON CITY -- One area state senator will go unopposed for re-election this year while another will face a November challenge from one of two declared hopefuls.

Four other candidates -- including an incumbent who is switching his party affiliation -- filed for area state representative seats during the final two days of the candidate filing period, which closed at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, will get a pass in November for a third and final term. Kinder is prohibited from running after this year by term limits.

Sen. Jerry T. Howard, D-Dexter, will go unopposed in his party primary but is guaranteed a Republican opponent in the fall. Howard, also making his final run because of term limits, has served in the Senate since 1990.

State Rep. Bill Foster, R-Poplar Bluff, filed for Howard's seat Monday. Foster has served in the House since 1993 but can't seek re-election to the House. He lost to Howard in the 1990 special election that brought Howard to the Senate. Foster, who then had no political experience, claimed 43 percent of the vote in that race.

Also on the Republican side is former Missouri Highway Patrolman Les Enderle of Poplar Bluff.

In House races, Democrat Van Harry Sharp of New Madrid filed Tuesday against freshman incumbent Rep. Lanie Black, R-Charleston.

Stepping into an already crowded field, two more candidates declared to succeed Rep. Jim Graham, R-Fredericktown, who is stepping down. Republican Tom Burcham of Farmington filed Monday, and Democrat Keith DeSpain of Fredericktown filed Tuesday.

Their candidacies bring the total number of hopefuls to 10 -- five from each party. The field will be trimmed to one candidate of each stripe in the Aug. 8 primaries.

By filing Monday as a Democrat, the House's lone Independent has picked a side. Rep. Denny Merideth III of Caruthersville came to the House via a special election in 1997 and won a full term in 1998. He defeated Democrats both times. Merideth will be unopposed this year.

Four other area House members will get free rides. Incumbents running without opposition are Democrats Don Koller of Summersville and Phillip Britt of Kennett and Republicans David Schwab of Jackson and Mark Richardson of Poplar Bluff. All but Britt are going for their last term. Britt was first elected in 1998.

Incumbents face challenges in two other districts. Candidates from both parties have filed for two additional open seats, those held by Foster and Rep. Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau, who is retiring.

Marc Powers may be contacted in Jefferson City at 573-635-4608 or by e-mail at mppowers@socket.net.

Area Candidates for the General Assembly

The candidate filing period for the Aug. 8 party primaries closed at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Candidates from each party are listed in the order their names will appear on the ballot. The counties each district covers are in parentheses.

Senate

25th District (Butler, Dunklin, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Stoddard, Wayne)

Jerry T. Howard (I) Democrat Dexter

Les Enderle Republican Poplar Bluff

Bill I. Foster Republican Poplar Bluff

27th District (Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Madison, Mississippi, Perry, Scott)

Peter Kinder (I) Republican Cape Girardeau

House of Representatives

106th District (Bollinger, Madison, St. Francois)

Linda Cruse Democrat Farmington

William Harry "Bill" Killian Democrat Fredericktown

James "Jim" Henson Democrat Farmington

Donald "Donnie" Owens Democrat Fredericktown

Keith DeSpain Democrat Fredericktown

Joe Stephenson Republican Fredericktown

William "Bill" Hart Republican Fredericktown

James Kevin Hovis Republican Fredericktown

Richard R. Macke Republican Fredericktown

Tom Burcham Republican Farmington

153rd District (Carter, Shannon, Oregon, Ripley)

Don Koller (I) Democrat Summersville

154th District (Butler)

Mark Richardson (I) Republican Poplar Bluff

155th District (Perry, Ste. Genevieve)

John R. Wibbenmeyer Democrat Ste. Genevieve

Pat Naeger (I) Republican Perryville

156th District (Butler, Bollinger, Wayne)

Bill Pedigo Jr. Democrat Zalma

Katherine Golden Democrat Hiram

Rod Jetton Republican Marble Hill

Tim Slayton Republican Fairdealing

157th District (Bollinger, Cape Girardeau)

David Schwab (I) Republican Jackson

158th District (Cape Girardeau)

Tom Neumeyer Democrat Cape Girardeau

Jason G. Crowell Republican Cape Girardeau

Jay Purcell Republican Cape Girardeau

Stan Wicks Republican Cape Girardeau

159th District (Scott, Stoddard)

Marilyn Williams (I) Democrat Dudley

Robert "Rob" Mayer Republican Dexter

Larry E. Sandage Republican Dexter

160th District (Mississippi, Scott)

Fran Robison Democrat Sikeston

Peter Myers (I) Republican Sikeston

161st District (Mississippi, New Madrid, Scott)

Van Harry Sharp Democrat New Madrid

Lanie Black (I) Republican Charleston

162nd District (Dunklin, New Madrid, Pemiscot)

Denny Merideth III (I) Democrat* Caruthersville

163rd District (Butler, Dunklin, Stoddard)

Phillip Britt (I) Democrat Kennett

(I) -- Incumbent

*Merideth is currently serving as an Independent.

Source: Missouri Secretary of State's Office