SEN. DENNIS WILL NOT SEEK A FIFTH TERM

BENTON - After nearly four decades in public office and with his 74th birthday approaching, state Sen. John Dennis has decided to leave politics. He will not seek a fifth term in the Senate next year.

"I'm not going to run any more; 40 years is long enough," Dennis said Monday morning. "I'd kind of like to be in there another four years, but I turn 74 the end of July and it's time to leave. It's been on my mind back and forth the last few months ... about a month ago I decided to retire."

Dennis admits to being tired though not tired of the Senate and points out he really hasn't had much free time over the years.

"I really enjoy my grandkids and great-grandkids and want to spend some time with them," said Dennis.

He and his wife, Myrtle, have three daughters, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Dennis expects to miss the companionship of the Senate and the frequent opportunities to help people, but he says his decision is final.

"There will be no change, this is it. If there was any doubt in my mind, I wouldn't be talking here today," said Dennis.

By announcing his decision early, Dennis feels it will give potential candidates plenty of time to think about making the race and give the people time to decide who they want to elect.

The senator says he has no hand-picked successor and will leave that decision up to the people. He noted that several people have told him they would likely run if he didn't.

Filing for the Senate seat will not begin until early next year; however, the list of prospective candidates is expected to be large.

Among the possible Democratic candidates being mentioned are Mayor Bill Burch and Rep. Dennis Ziegenhorn, both of Sikeston; former state Rep. Betty Hearnes of Charleston; Mike Richey, a Cape Girardeau attorney; Cape Girardeau County Clerk Rodney Miller; and Hugh White, a member of the Cape Girardeau City Council.

Potential Republican candidates include state Reps. Mary Kasten of Cape Girardeau and David Schwab of Jackson; and former Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Larry Ferrell.

The district currently includes Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Scott, New Madrid and Mississippi counties. But new district lines will be drawn by the 1992 election.

Dennis, who served 24 years as sheriff of Scott County before winning his Senate seat in 1976 after Albert M. Spradling retired, admits an attraction to a vigorous re-election campaign and the challenge of running in a newly drawn district. But, he's made up his mind to pass it up.

Dennis won a primary against Democrat Billy Joe Thompson of Jackson in 1976, and then defeated Republican Howard Tooke in November. At the time, Tooke was mayor of Cape Girardeau. Dennis won the election and has not faced Republican opposition since.

In fact, his last challenge came in 1980 when former Scott County Circuit Judge Lloyd G. Briggs challenged him in the primary after being ousted from office by the Missouri Supreme Court. In that campaign, Dennis carried every precinct in eight counties but one; he lost that precinct 4-2. In Briggs' home ward in Chaffee, the two tied.

Asked why no Republican had challenged him since he was first elected to the Senate, Dennis said, "I guess I was doing what they wanted me to do. I always had quite a bit of Republican support."

Another reason could be Dennis's philosophy that he has followed throughout his career: "Don't forget the people that put you in."

Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep, a Republican, is one of Dennis' staunchest supporters.

"There's really going to be a big void up there. He's in a class all his own," declared Huckstep. "John and I never were in a partisan political situation. When we needed something in the legislature, he was always there."

Huckstep said on anything Cape Girardeau County needed, the senator always tried to come through, regardless of anyone's party affiliation.

The senator has also suffered from Parkinson's disease for about 14 years and that causes his hands and head to shake. He has been experimenting with different medications to control the tremors, and experiences no pain from the disease. Dennis said the disease had nothing to do with his decision, and noted that new medications have brought it mostly under control.

But Dennis concedes his age would likely have tempted younger people from both parties to challenge his re-election bid.

While the senator talks with pride about his having been elected to office 10 different times without being defeated, the fear of losing was not a factor.

"I love to politick once I get started," said Dennis. "You can pretty well gauge the public perception, and yes, I'm not bragging, but I think I could have been re-elected."

Dennis looks back on his career in public office with pride and attributes whatever success he has had to being able to get along with people. "The secret is give and take and trying to shoot people straight," said Dennis.

"I have always enjoyed helping people, listening to their troubles and then telling how you can help," he observed. "Some bureaucrats sometimes forget they work for the people, and that leaves a bad taste. You can't forget who you are working for."

In working for the people of this area, Dennis says he is proud of his record. "I'm kind of proud of what I've gotten done for my area in the Senate," declared Dennis.

When asked to list some of the achievements he is most proud of, the senator points to funding for the Show Me Center and other buildings on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University; the veterans home and new conservation commission office/nature center in Cape Girardeau; a new mental hospital in Farmington; working with Rep. Gene Copeland to pass a new enterprise zone bill in two weeks to keep an industry from leaving New Madrid; and development of the regional crime lab in Cape Girardeau.

Dennis also points to his efforts to pass legislation creating a new Department of Corrections that includes probation and parole, removing it from the Department of Social Services. As co-chairman of the Joint Committee on Corrections, he is pleased that several new prisons were built to address overcrowding problems.

Because of his 24 years in law enforcement, Dennis has worked actively for legislation that helps sheriffs, the highway patrol, and local governments.

He has also had a soft spot in his heart for education; in talking with young people, he usually takes a minute to encourage them to study hard and pursue a college degree. Other efforts by the senator have focused on nursing home reforms, homes for handicapped youths, and improved transportation.

Dennis is quick to point out that what has been accomplished during his time in the Senate could not have been done without the help of others.

"The secret up here is getting along with people," remarked Dennis.

Sen. John Scott, a St. Louis Democrat who grew up in Mississippi County, says Dennis's strength is that "he understands people very well. A skilled politician can size things up in a hurry and relate to the problems that exist; John Dennis does that.

"After 40 years, he knows how to cut the red tape and get things done. His record proves that. It's amazing what he does. John does things right - I've never heard a bad thing said about him."

As sheriff, Dennis served four years as president of the Missouri Sheriff's Association and four years as president of the Missouri Peace Officers Association. He traveled the state during those years conducting seminars in law enforcement.

Dennis has been honored by many organizations during his career, but one of those he is especially proud of is the "Friend of the University Award" given him two years ago at Southeast Missouri State.

In the Senate, he is chairman of the Elections and General Laws Committee, a panel that deals with diverse and often controversial legislation; he was named this year to chair the new Senate Ethics Committee; and for eight years has chaired the Senate Democratic caucus.

This fall he expects to be active in the campaign for Proposition B, a tax increase to help education. He has not yet committed to any candidates for governor next year, but does plan to be active in the campaign of Sen. Roger Wilson of Columbia for lieutenant governor.

With his retirement approaching, Dennis plans to keep working hard the next 18 months as his long career in public service winds down. He hopes to pass more legislation to help his di~strict next year and then walk away from public life with pride and no regrets.

Scott says Southeast Missouri and the entire state will miss John Dennis.

"He makes things happen; he's a remarkable man," declared Scott. "On the floor of the Senate he has so much respect and trust that no one questions his legislation. I don't know of any other senator like that."