SEVERAL MENTIONED AS POSSIBLE SUCCESSOR TO OLIVER ON COMMISSION

Six months before John Oliver Jr.'s term on the Missouri Highway Commission expires, candidates are lining up to replace the Cape Girardeau lawyer's spot on the six-member board.

Oliver's six-year term on the governing board of the Missouri Department of Highways and Transportation ends Oct. 13.

Chris Sifford, spokesman for Gov. Mel Carnahan, who appoints the commission members, said it is administration policy not to comment on who has expressed interest in the job. "I can say there have been quite a few people showing an interest in the Southeast Missouri slot on the commission," Sifford said. "But we traditionally don't comment on that."

Walter Wildman of Cape Girardeau, director of a group supporting an east-west transnational corridor through Cape Girardeau, has expressed interest in the position.

Wildman admits he's "a long shot" for the job. "It's a very sought-after position," said Wildman, "but it's a political appointment, and I'm not a partisan-type person."

A longtime friend of Carnahan's, Wildman said his relationship with the governor "is the reason I had the audacity to entertain the thought in the first place."

Other names mentioned in recent months to take Oliver's seat are Kennett lawyer H. Mark Preyer, Sikeston businessman Bill Burch and Dexter businessman Harold Williams.

Preyer said he has had some informal discussions about the position "along the lines that the job needs to stay in Southeast Missouri, and really nothing more than that. I'm certainly not campaigning for it."

Burch and Williams could not be reached to comment.

Wildman said he asked Carnahan if he should campaign for the position. Carnahan, said Wildman, "told me to hold off for now. I'll wait until a little closer to the time, later in the year, to do that. It would be a waste of time right now."

However, Wildman has in recent weeks started to measure his support among Southeast Missouri legislators.

Don Koller, D-Summersville, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said "Walt really hasn't approached me about it, but he has expressed that it is one of his desires."

Rep. Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau, said Wildman "mentioned that someone asked him if he would try for it."

And Wildman asked House Minority Leader Rep. Mark Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, if he would support him. Richardson was noncommittal.

"I trust I can pull off some pretty good support," said Wildman. "I've worked up close and personal with ISTEA (the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act) and the Southeast Missouri highway plan. It would be a natural to have me on the commission."

Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, would have to give the nod for Wildman to succeed. Appointments aren't usually confirmed if the person seeking a position doesn't have the support of the legislators in their district.

"Some good names have been mentioned," Kinder said. "I ordinarily wait until the governor's office has proposed a nominee, at which time they consult me, if the person is from the 26th District."

Oliver said he won't offer Carnahan advice on his successor. "I would not presume to become involved in the decision. That's his prerogative."

Of the people vying for his position, Oliver said: "If they knew how much work the job is, they would see the work is disproportionate to the honor."

MISSOURI HIGHWAY COMMISSION

The commission is bipartisan, composed of three Democrats and three Republicans. Members are appointed by the governor to staggered six-year terms.

Although not bound by law to do so, the seats represent different geographic areas of Missouri.

The body governs the Department of Highwasy and Transportation, and meets monthly in Jefferson City.

Two seats have terms that expire in October; a third seat is up in December.