Scott Co. sheriff pondering Senate bid

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Retiring Scott County Sheriff Bill Ferrell may try to follow in the steps of his predecessor and run for the Missouri Senate.

However, Ferrell, who is in his 28th year as sheriff and isn't seeking re-election, said Friday that a Senate bid is just a possibility at this point.

"It is something I'm thinking about," Ferrell said. "I haven't made any decisions on what I'm going to do as far as politics are concerned."

The man Ferrell succeeded, fellow Democrat John Dennis, was elected to the Senate in 1976 after serving 24 years as Scott County sheriff. Dennis held his upper chamber seat until 1993, when he was replaced by its current occupant, Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau.

With Kinder stepping down at the end of the year, House Majority Floor Leader Jason Crowell, also a Cape Girardeau Republican, filed last week for the 27th District Senate seat.

Crowell, who is in his fourth year as state representative, claimed the endorsements of several of his Republican colleagues whose House jurisdictions fall within the six-county territory of the Senate district. Those supporters include state Reps. Peter Myers of Sikeston, Lanie Black of Charleston, Rod Jetton of Marble Hill and Rob Mayer of Dexter. Mayer is also running for the Senate but from the 25th District.

Former state Rep. Pat Naeger of Perryville has also expressed interest in seeking the GOP nomination for the 27th District seat but hasn't yet filed for the August primary.

Veto override unlikely

Gov. Bob Holden on Thursday quietly vetoed a resolution seeking to block an administrative rule that would force newly hired state workers who are represented by -- but don't belong to -- a labor union to nonetheless pay union fees.

Since the measure originated in the House, any attempt to override the veto would start there as well. Crowell said such a move is likely, though he isn't sure when it will take place.

"It is an important public policy decision which will have its day in a veto override attempt," Crowell said.

The House plans to take on tort reform -- another controversial topic -- this week, which will leave little time for other issues, Crowell said.

While sure to draw political attention to public sector collective bargaining, an override effort is unlikely to succeed. The House initially passed the resolution 86-69, well short of the 109 votes needed to bypass the governor. The Senate likewise failed to muster a veto-proof majority with its 20-13 vote.

Guns challenger

By switching his position on concealed weapons last fall, Senate Majority Floor Leader Michael Gibbons, R-Kirkwood, helped deliver the bare minimum of 23 Senate votes necessary to override Holden's veto of legislation granting carry and conceal rights to many Missourians.

His change from opponent to supporter of the measure has prompted an election challenge from a prominent anti-gun rights activist. Jeannie Kirkton, legislative director for the Missouri chapter of the Million Mom March, filed as a Democrat in a bid to oust Gibbons from office.

Voters in Gibbons' Senate district in suburban St. Louis overwhelmingly opposed concealed weapons to help defeat a statewide ballot proposal on the issue in 1999.

Hanson's back

Al Hanson of Concordia, a little-known candidate who claimed the Republican nomination for state auditor in 2002 but was disavowed by the party after a past felony conviction for financial fraud came to light, is taking another run at statewide office.

Hanson filed last week for state treasurer, becoming one of seven Republicans seeking the job. Three Democrats have declared for the office.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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