ROTHMAN-SEROT SAYS CAMPAIGN FOCUSES ON JOBS, ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH CARE

Democratic Senatorial Candidate Geri Rothman-Serot charged Monday that Republican U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond has been using "half truths and lies" to distort her record and misrepresent his own.

"I just wish Kit Bond would start telling the truth," complained Rothman-Serot in remarks at the official opening of the Southeast Missouri office for the Clinton-Gore/coordinated Democratic campaign.

"I do not believe people will be fooled by the half truths, lies and money he is putting out," the candidate told about 80 Democrats who attended the opening reception. "He's playing games ... you want people who are honest and trustworthy, not playing games representing you."

Rothman-Serot said her campaign is focusing on three issues: the need for more jobs to stimulate the economy, access to health care for all Americans, and the need to protect the environment.

The single most important issue in 1992 is "jobs, jobs jobs the economic viability of our state," she said.

Rothman-Serot is no stranger to Missouri politics. She played active roles in the campaigns of her former husband, Kenneth Rothman, who served as speaker of the Missouri House and served four years as lieutenant governor before losing the governor's race to John Ashcroft in 1984.

In those past campaigns, Rothman-Serot noted that issues seemed to vary around the state. But in 1992, the overriding issue in all parts of the state is jobs, she said.

Rothman-Serot predicted a big year for Democrats in Missouri and argued that Bond has failed to be an effective voice for Missourians the past six years.

"People are coming out to see what is going on and to find out what is happening for one very simple reason: They are frustrated and very angry about where this state is headed, and they are bound and determined that they are going to work very hard between now and election day to be sure that we have that change," declared the candidate.

Responding to charges from Bond that she has neglected personal campaigning and has devoted most of her time to fundraising, Rothman-Serot noted that Bond has already raised several million dollars so he can spend more time traveling the state.

She charged that Bond should have been aggressive in seeking campaign finance reform.

"I can assure you when I get to Washington that one of my goals and challenges is to find campaign finance reform that makes sense, makes government fair, and gives government back to the people so we don't have to spend so much time on the phone begging for dollars, which let me assure you is a terrible job," said Rothman-Serot.

On Friday shortly after Rothman-Serot arrived in Cape Girardeau a group of Bond supporters held a press conference to chide some of her policies.

One charged that Rothman-Serot helped cut the St. Louis police force and budget, and another speaker indicated she opposed the use of ethanol.

But Rothman-Serot denied both charges, saying their typical of the "kind of distortions" Bond is adding to the campaign.

She said she has nothing to do with the city of St. Louis police budget because she serves on the St. Louis County Council where there have been no cuts in the police force. Also, she claimed that she was an ethanol proponent for years.

"I'm going to make sure ethanol is a reality and not something we just talk about," Rothman-Serot said. "We will have an ethanol program that works. It's ridiculous that nothing has been done."

During the primary election campaign, Rothman-Serot said she talked about the need to bring dollars home and reduce the nation's military presence in Japan and Europe.

She said Bond also has called recently for the same thing, but when the opportunity to cut military spending abroad has arisen in the past, the senator has voted them down.

In her plan for re-ordering military priorities, Rothman-Serot said she would call for a $150 billion cut in defense. Bond has said he wants to cut $177 billion.

Rothman-Serot said that as the campaign progresses, voters will be able to clearly see the dramatic differences between her and Bond.

"This is not just an election, this is about our kids and the futures they are headed toward," she added. "We need to send people to Washington you can trust and believe in."