SCHOEMEHL VISITS, ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY

St. Louis Mayor Vince Schoemehl portrayed himself Tuesday as someone who could be "an agent for change" in Missouri to help expand opportunities for citizens and to make state government work for the people.

He said: "I promise you one thing: If you send me to Jefferson City I'm going to shake them up. If you send me to Jefferson City, things are going to be different. If you send me to Jefferson City we will have a governor and a government that will serve your purposes day in and day out to provide for your children and your grandchildren the kind of future that my father and my grandparents provided for me."

Schoemehl, 45, serving his third term as mayor, formally announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for governor at a news conference here Tuesday afternoon. He was accompanied by his parents, Vince Schoemehl Sr. and Lucille.

He stressed the need for change in state government and an end of what he called an era of rhetoric and inaction.

"You never change things without some turmoil because people become comfortable with things sometimes, no matter how bad they get," Schoemehl said. "Missouri needs to change and it needs somebody who is experienced running a complex government to affect that change."

The stop in Cape Girardeau was the eighth in three days by the mayor. About 100 people turned out for the announcement rally at the Southeast Missouri State University Center.

All of Schoemehl's announcement rallies were held on the campuses of state universities, which, he said, was done "to underscore the importance of making an investment in education.

"I'm embarrassed about where Missouri is in education," said Schoemehl. "I'm embarrassed because all we have gotten in the last decade from this Republican administration is rhetorical commitments instead of action. They talk, and talk and talk, but they never `do.' They never come forward with any real strategic `do' of how our educational investment is the link with our economic future. As a result, the youngsters on this campus today, and more importantly, the youngsters who aren't on this campus today, the 18-year olds and 20-years olds, have been denied the opportunity given to me.

"I resent it, I'm embarrassed by it, and I intend to change it," he said.

Schoemehl said he worked his way through college over a period of seven-and-a-half years and he would not have been able to afford to go to college had not a university like the University of Missouri-St. Louis been near his home.

While working at various jobs to get through school, Schoemehl said he learned two important lessons: one, that American dreams can come true; and two, "Each generation has a responsibility to provide to the next the commitment and the opportunity for that generation to advance themselves."

During his campaign, Schoemehl said he will focus on five areas: improving higher education, elementary and secondary education, boosting economic development, developing a better infrastructure, and providing access to good medical care for all Missourians.

As one of his economic development features, Schoemehl said he "has an idea for Missouri" that is much like that in North Carolina in 1975, when state leaders committed educational resources to excelling in the development of high technology.

"I want to make Missouri the world capital of alternative energy," said Schoemehl, pointing out that in 1990 Missouri spent $9.7 billion on energy, with $6 billion of that to import oil.

"I've been flying all over this state the last two years and I have not seen one single oil well. But I've seen thousands of corn fields, I've seen thousands of soybean fields, I've met thousands of construction workers that could build ethanol and soy fuel-oil plants who could maintain that, distribute the product, and in fact create a new economy for Missouri."

Schoemehl suggested that just as was done in North Carolina, faculty from universities in Missouri could do the research in this area.

"We need someone committed to take our resources, pull it together and make it a reality," the mayor said.

Schoemehl downplayed comments that he might have difficulty winning outstate because he was mayor of St. Louis, and that some of the publicity he has received as mayor might work against him in the governor's race.

Schoemehl said change cannot occur without making someone mad. He contended that overall he has done a good job turning the city of St. Louis around during his 11-year tenure.

The mayor portrayed himself as an activist chief executive. He said he was "the only candidate in the governor's race who has actually balanced a budget, revitalized an economy, and saved workers' jobs.

"I'm proud of the job we've done in St. Louis. We rose to the challenge, we changed the way things were done, we created opportunity."

For over two years Schoemehl has been traveling the state, laying the groundwork for his gubernatorial bid. Starting his comments Tuesday, the mayor joked that he was making "the announcement of perhaps the worst kept secret in Missouri."

His main opponent in the August Democratic primary is Lt. Gov. Mel Carnahan of Rolla.

Republican Gov. John Ashcroft is prohibited by the state constitution from seeking a third term.