Senator to unite urban, rural interests

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- In the Missouri General Assembly, bitter fights often erupt over differences of perspective or misunderstandings between urban and rural interests.

Senator-elect Maida Coleman views herself as uniquely qualified to bridge that gap. A Sikeston native, Coleman will represent an inner-city St. Louis district in the Legislature.

Although urban voters elected her, she plans to be equally active on issues important to Southeast Missouri.

"I hope to be able to work with senators and representatives from the Bootheel to make things happen," Coleman said. "Although I serve St. Louis city, my heart is still in Sikeston."

Coleman, 47, handily won a special election on Tuesday to fill the vacancy left when state Sen. Paula Carter, a fellow Democrat, died in November following a long battle with cancer. Coleman will serve the remaining three years of Carter's term, which ends in 2005.

Though she won't be officially sworn into office until early next week, Coleman visited the Senate on Thursday. Senators of both parties offered their congratulations and praise.

"We have felt diminished since Senator Carter left us," said state Sen. Roseanne Bentley, R-Springfield. "I know we all welcome you to the Senate Women's Caucus."

Coleman will be one of only six women and two black senators -- both women -- in the 34-member chamber.

Journalism graduate

Coleman left Southeast Missouri to attend Lincoln University in Jefferson City, where she earned a bachelor's degree in journalism. After graduation, she held a number of government jobs and eventually settled in St. Louis, where she got involved in ward politics as a committeewoman.

She won an open seat in the House of Representatives in November 2000 but served just over half of the two-year term. Coleman resigned the seat last month in anticipation of winning the Senate election and so that her House seat could more quickly be filled.

Coleman said her interest in public service is to assist hard-working folks who can't navigate the maze of state government bureaucracy on their own.

"I got to this point just by my interest in helping working people," Coleman said. "That is my drive and motivation."

Agricultural interests

Moving to the big city didn't diminish her interest in farming. Last year she served on the House Agriculture Committee, a panel usually devoid of urban representation. Coleman believes she is the only black lawmaker ever to serve on the committee.

She still has a host of relatives in the Sikeston, Hayti and Wordell areas and visits the region regularly.

Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, said Coleman's presence will be like having another Southeast Missouri senator on many issues, despite her urban address.

"I think she will be attentive to the needs and concerns of the Bootheel in a way that people who have not lived there never could," Kinder said.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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