Record number of open state seats up for grabs

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The battle for control of the General Assembly and who will complete the U.S. Senate term Gov. Mel Carnahan won from the grave look to be the top stories of the 2002 election cycle in Missouri.

With term limits finally taking full effect this year, there will be a record number of open state legislative seats up for grabs. Because Republicans hold a narrow majority in the Senate while Democrats have a similarly tenuous grasp on the House of Representatives, it's anybody's ballgame.

At the federal level, incumbent U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan, a Democrat, is making her first run for elected office. The former Missouri first lady was appointed to the seat after her husband won his 2000 bid for the office despite perishing in a plane crash weeks before Election Day.

Her GOP challenger is former U.S. Rep. Jim Talent, who narrowly lost his bid for governor in 2000 -- many supporters felt because the death of the popular governor rallied Democratic voters to the polls.

The winner will serve the remaining four years of Mel Carnahan's term.

Candidate filing for the Aug. 6 primaries for state and federal legislative seats in Missouri, as well as circuit court judgeships and state auditor opens 8 a.m. Tuesday in the state capital.

Auditor unopposed so far

State Auditor Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, is seeking her second four-year term. She doesn't yet have an announced Republican challenger.

Scott Baker, spokesman for the state Republican Party, said a strong candidate is still being sought, but the party's main focus is on legislative races.

"We are not going to ignore that race by any means, but it's not high on the priority list either," Baker said.

Also without an opponent so far is U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, who has said she will seek a fourth term. Emerson faced only token opposition in 2000 for the 8th Congressional District seat.

In the General Assembly, both major political parties will be making strong pushes for dominance. Term limits alone will mean 73 open seats in the 163-member House and 12 openings in the 34-member Senate. With some eligible incumbents opting against re-election, there will likely be even more open seats.

Democrats need a net gain of two seats to regain the Senate, which they lost in special elections last year, while Republicans need a total gain of seven to claim the House.

"We are very excited about this election," said Nancy Tully, spokesperson for the state Democratic Party. "We expect to retain control of the House and regain the Senate."

Baker said the GOP's recruitment effort is yielding an abundance of high-quality candidates.

Only half the Senate seats are on the ballot this year and none from Southeast Missouri. All House seats are up for election.

Many campaigns started

Of Southeast Missouri's House delegation, all eligible incumbents but one have established re-election campaigns. State Rep. Denny Merideth, D-Caruthersville, hasn't announced whether he will seek another term.

Incumbents without opposition so far are Republicans Lanie Black of Charleston, Jason Crowell of Cape Girardeau, Rod Jetton of Marble Hill, Rob Mayer of Dexter and Peter Myers of Sikeston and Democrats Dan Ward of Bonne Terre and Wes Wagner of DeSoto, whose newly redrawn district will come into Southeast Missouri for the first time with the addition of Ste. Genevieve County.

Two other area incumbents have challengers. Republican Curtis Steward of Campbell is seeking to unseat state Rep. Phillip Britt, D-Kennett, and Cecilia Fallert of Perryville will face state Rep. Tom Burcham of Farmington in the GOP primary.

Four-way race

Four Republicans are vying to replace term-limited state Rep. David Schwab, R-Jackson. They are Tom Sachse of Friedheim and three Jackson residents -- school board president Gerald Adams, Cape Girardeau County assistant prosecutor Scott Lipke and Donna Lichtenegger.

Butler County Commissioner Robert L. Myers, a Republican, is seeking the seat being vacated by state Rep. Mark Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff.

Richardson, term-limited in the Legislature, will run for 36th Judicial Circuit bench. Judge W. Robert Cope, a Democrat, is stepping down after 12 years.

Also running in that circuit, which covers Butler and Ripley counties, is Democrat Robert Smith of Poplar Bluff, a former assistant county prosecutor who is now a public defender.

Judge William Syler, a Republican, will seek re-election in the 32nd Judicial Circuit, which covers Bollinger, Cape Girardeau and Perry counties. Syler has held the post since October 1992, when he was appointed to fill a vacancy. He was later twice elected to the seat.

mpowers@semissourian.com

(573) 635-4608