REP. KASTEN GIVES FAMILY ISSUES A BOOST!

JEFFERSON CITY - The walls of Mary Kasten's first-floor Capitol office are covered with photographs, plaques, letters and other memorabilia that reflect a lifetime of public service service that has earned Kasten a reputation for compassion, integrity, and sincere dedication to helping others.

"I've always had a philosophy that you forfeit the right to complain if you are not willing to work and take part of the blame," said Kasten. "I really believe that. I get annoyed with people who complain about things and aren't willing to work at doing something about it; not that you always can, but I think if you are dedicated you should try to do something."

Kasten's record of service has become the foundation of her emergence as an effective force and advocate in the Missouri General Assembly on issues related to children and families issues the Cape Girardeau Republican believes strongly about. Long before family values were emerging as a focus of political campaigns, Mary Kasten was quietly working with others to find ways to address the complex and changing needs of families.

Though education issues initially got Kasten interested in running for the Missouri House in 1982, her real niche in the legislature has been family issues.

She served 20 years on the Cape Girardeau Board of Education. During that time she was active at the state level with education organizations, including a stint as president of the Missouri School Boards Association. Kasten was also appointed by Democratic ex-governor Joe Teasdale to serve three years of an unexpired term on the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents, making her the first woman to serve on the board.

From her work as a member of the Cape Civic Center Board of Directors, on the school board and other community organizations, Kasten went to Jefferson City with a realization that no one was doing a good job in dealing with social problems.

"I had seen a lot of the social problems and felt I could find some solutions to those," explained Kasten. In particular, she was concerned that agencies both public and private did not appear to be working together; instead, they were duplicating services, protecting their turf and not communicating.

Kasten also realized that the problems were complex enough that no amount of money could solve them. Problems needed to be addressed at the local levels, she believed. Throughout her tenure in the House, Kasten has served on the Children, Youth and Families Committee, which has tackled dozens of these difficult issues.

Said Kasten: "All the money in the world is not going to make the difference, but communities can make a difference. When a community dedicates itself to solving some of the unique problems, and they put their businesspeople, religious leaders, education system, agency people and all those folks who are interested and pull them together, they will solve some problems.

"That's the only way you really can. We've seen money doesn't do it. We haven't been very successful coming down from the top; we need to start from the bottom."

About four years ago Kasten got community leaders and representatives of various agencies that deal with families together and formed a Community Caring Council, which is designed to make families more resourceful and self-reliant. The goal is to insure that there is coordination and discussion between agencies.

The concept has been successful in Cape Girardeau County, and the council now functions on its own. The program has drawn attention not only from around the state, but nationally. Kasten and other members of the council have testified before congressional committees, at national meetings, and have traveled around the state sharing the success of the council.

This year Kasten amended a bill in the House on welfare reform to encourage formation of caring councils around the state. The legislation is written in a way to provide local flexibility, which Kasten insists is the key to success.

She has also pushed for the use of mediation in divorce cases in which children are involved and for development of a family court system, and is working to develop support for legislation that ends the incentive for mothers on welfare to have additional children.

Kasten is one of the most respected House members on family-related issues.

The fact that Kasten has emerged as a forceful figure in the House surprises some people, who view her as too nice and perhaps too naive to compete in the rough-and-tumble world of state politics. She is a friend to everyone - greeting visitors to her Capitol office with a warm smile and hug and offering them sodas and treats. No matter how hectic her schedule is, Kasten is never too busy to make sure visitors have an enjoyable visit to Jefferson City.

Kasten acknowledges some have questioned her toughness ability to be in the legislature, but quickly points out that she feels comfortable in her surroundings. For six years she has been secretary of the House Republican Caucus, she holds a seat on one of the five appropriations committees, and two years ago she was placed on the powerful budget committee that has a direct hand in the state's $11 billion budget.

"I came up here with rose-colored glasses and got them knocked off rather quickly," admits Kasten. "I had never run for political office, and had always been careful not to be involved in politics while on the school board.

"I realized that the legislature is where a lot of the action was related to schools," said Kasten. When Jerry Ford announced he would not seek re-election to the House, and would instead run for Congress, Kasten began considering a possible bid for the House.

Her daughter was graduating from high school, and the timing appeared to be right for Kasten to make the race. With encouragement from her family and husband, Dr. Mel Kasten, and many friends, she filed for the House. Kasten won a three-way Republican primary and a general election race, and was headed to a new level of public service.

"There were just too many things out there that were too important and needed to be looked at," said Kasten. "It just seemed like a good time. In my wildest dreams I never planned to be in the legislature, and it was kind of a gradual thing that seemed to be what I should do.

"I did a lot of praying about it. I'm convinced the Lord kind of pushes you where he wants you to be and you need to listen. I suppose there was work for me here."

Kasten believes she is a little tougher in 1993 than she was in 1983 after taking office. "I don't know that I've ever gotten as tough as I ought to, although I sure know a lot more than I pretend to know," she laughed.

Rep. Mark Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, agrees that many people underestimate Kasten. "In many ways, Mary's leadership could be confused by people who don't know her well," said Richardson.

"She practices leadership by persuasion rather than by intimidation. That is a real strength because she is known for being warm and a person of unquestioned integrity. From that emulates a natural kind of respect for her thoughts and opinions. She is a real quiet pillar of strength."

Richardson said Kasten is comparable to former First Lady Barbara Bush in many ways because of her style.

"She is genuinely the lady of the Capitol. She is so well loved by all her colleagues and the staff. She loves it when constituents come to visit her. She enjoys showing children interesting points in the Capitol; she's a real, warm human being and an effective legislator."

Richardson and others point out that Kasten works long hours and is often sought out for advice, particularly by younger legislators.

Overall, Kasten has a high regard for her colleagues.

"You have to be here a while to learn all the relationships and backgrounds as to why people behave the way they do and vote the way they do. But as a combination, this is a wonderful group of people very outstanding, bright and capable," said Kasten. "There are an awful lot of egos, and sometimes that causes trouble.

"If we could all work hard and not care who got the credit, that would be best, but then you have to answer to the people back home who think you are not doing anything unless they see evidence. Up here you have to begin trying to take credit for things, but practically everything here is a collective effort."

For Kasten, being a state representative has a lot of frustrating moments, especially at this point in the session when time is running out and key issues remain unresolved. The hours are long, and trips back and forth to Jefferson City are tedious. But the support of her family and friends, and especially her husband, keeps her going.

"There is satisfaction when you can make a difference, if even a small difference," said Kasten.

Being able to help constituents is one of the most enjoyable parts of the job. "I always said that if you could make red tape nutritious, you could feed the world," said Kasten. "The joy of this job is being able to cut through red tape that people wrestle with and when the state has given then the runaround."

Kasten is not sure when the time will come to end her career in the House. But for now she still finds it enjoyable and is looking forward to pursuing better coordination and efficiency in state government and helping people with their problems.

"When I get to the point where I'm tired and don't have fun, then I'll hang it up," said Kasten. "You never know what each day is going to bring. I won't stay on until people have to let me know they want me out; I hope I have the good grace to leave when I'm on an upward swing here. But there are still a lot of things I would like to get done."