RURAL, URBAN CONCERNS TO BE TOPICS AT FORUM; LAWMAKERS CONVERGE ON CHARLESTON

CHARLESTON -- Local residents said they hope visiting state legislators will be receptive to concerns of southeast Missourians during a forum in Charleston tonight.

A panel discussion led by members of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus will be held at 6:30 at Clara Drinkwater Newnam Auditorium. The event is co-sponsored by Mississippi County Community Churches to let people know of legislation passed during the session and to answer questions they might have.

"Hopefully it will not be just a once-a-year meeting with the people but some type of on-going interaction between the communities and the Legislature," said business owner Charles Williams of Charleston.

State Rep. Joe Heckemeyer, D-Sikeston, is the only local lawmaker scheduled to participate. Joining him will be state Reps. Gracia Backer, D-New Bloomfield; Mary G. Bland, D-Kansas City; and Paula Carter, D-St. Louis; and state Sens. Phil Curls Sr., D-Kansas City; and J.B. "Jet" Banks, D-St. Louis. State department official James Robnett and former state representative Jackie McGee also will be on hand to discuss housing and economic-development initiatives in the region.

Other topics to be discussed include education, health, welfare reform and the state budget.

Williams said he would like to see more local legislators attend so they can hear concerns of constituents. The mostly urban panel may recognize similarities in the problems faced by southeast Missouri residents, but there are underlying factors they may not understand, he said.

"Their problems may be the same, but how we handle them is different," he said. Local lawmakers need to come "so they can get a feel of what the community really wants, be they Democrat or Republican."

Former state representative Betty Hearnes of Charleston said she believes exposure to urban lawmakers will have a positive impact on local concerns. "You like for local legislators to be there, but local residents can get to them all the time," she said. "They can't always have that access to legislators from St. Louis and Kansas City."

Hearnes said she expects a large turnout. People want to understand what laws are being passed and will probably have good questions for the legislators, she said. Of special interest will be recently passed education legislation that could mean more state funding to local school districts and a health bill that expands Medicaid coverage.

Economic development is also important because of the high unemployment rates and low average income in the region, she said.

"Anything we get in this area helps the whole area," said Hearnes, a Democrat, who is competing against Republican Lanie Black to succeed state Rep. Gene Copeland, D-New Madrid, in the 161st District.

"Charleston's prison appropriation is a done deal, but there are other things we hope will bring more economic development," she said.