SIX DEMOCRATS FACE OFF FOR U.S. CONGRESS: BURK FEELS THIS IS YEAR DEMOCRATS CAN WIN

After having been active in the Democratic Party and teaching social studies at the secondary education level for years, Dean Burk decided this might be a good time to make a run for public office. He sensed that 1992 might be a good year to win a congressional seat.

He waited as Sen. Danny Staples, D-Eminence, and Rep. Joe Driskill, D-Poplar Bluff, ruled out running, and then on the last day of filing in March, went to Jefferson City to file in the 8th district.

"I felt this year offered us our best chance to unseat Bill Emerson," declared Burk. "I felt a Democrat landslide coming."

Although he has run for other offices in the past, Burk has never held public office and this is his first try for Congress.

Burk, 49, lives on the northern edge of the district in Washington County, although his mailing address is DeSoto, which is in Jefferson County and in another district.

Burk admits he was a little surprised to see Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney Jon Kiser enter the race, and suggests that the six-way race is really down to he and Kiser.

"I think I'm a stronger Democrat than he is," declared Burk of Kiser, adding that while he has never held public office, Kiser is serving his second term.

Drawing a comparison between himself and Kiser, Burk said, "I am a teacher and a farmer and he's a lawyer. We need to send people to Washington, D.C. who are common people ... there are too many lawyers there now."

He admits that the two agree on most issues, but one that Burk feels distinguishes them clearly is term limits.

"He does not support term limits. I do," declared Burk. "It works for the president, it works for the governor, it should be in place for Congress too. The founding gathers had nothing but a perception of a citizen-legislator."

Burk said with the campaign funds available to incumbents, it is almost impossible to defeat a sitting congressman even with a good challenger.

The economy and unemployment are the two biggest problems facing the United States, Burk believes. "The most important thing we can do is to turn around unemployment ... before you fiddle with economic policy we should be at full employment."

Burk pointed out that after World War II, President Truman convinced Congress to invest $1 billion in providing jobs for returning servicemen. He said the estimated return on that investment was $1 trillion.

"It is the exact situation we are in now; we need to invest in jobs," said Burk.

In the 8th district, a lack of jobs is also a pressing issue, especially in smaller towns. Burk is calling for a greater investment in rural economic development programs.

Burk agrees with other candidates that bringing the deficit under control is crucial, but he warns it cannot be done over night. He also does not feel a balanced budget amendment is necessary or prudent.

"If Congress doesn't balance the budget, then the people should elect candidates who will," he observed, adding that there are times when the nation needs to have deficit financing to stimulate future growth or to deal with emergency situations.

"Our problem is, we have not paid off debt when times are good," said Burk.

To help turn the economy around, Burk is calling for a national policy of industrial development. In addition, he believes additional investments should be made in infrastructure and using current technology to develop a plan of converting waste to energy.

Burk is a strong supporter of a national health care system patterned after the Canadians that provides direct delivery of services and insures the availability of health care to all.

"It has proven to work the best of all the variations," said Burk of the Canadian plan. He supports a two tier plan that provides both a public system and a private system of health care.

On the abortion issue, Burk points out that he is "fundamentally and personally opposed to the act of abortion" except in cases of rape, incest, a threat to the mothers life, or if it could be determined the child would have no chance for an independent lifestyle.

Burk said he strongly endorses the work of Birthright, an organization that provides information on alternatives to abortion.

On the other hand, Burk said he recognizes abortion is a divisive issue and one that involves very personal decisions.

"I don't believe in making criminals out of people who disagree with me," said Burk.

He supports aid to the Soviet Union and suggests some of the money could come by reducing the military presence in Japan and Germany.

"We have to do everything we can to make sure we don't fall into the same syndrome of the radical government of the U.S.S.R. that could cause us to spend all this money on militarism again," said Burk. "It is to our benefit that we support a peaceful government in Russia, and it's going to take money."

A graduate of Westminster College in Fulton, Burk has taught school in Hillsboro and DeSoto and presently works for the St. Louis public school system. He is a member of the American Federation of Teachers Union.

Regardless of the outcome of the primary next week, Burk said he looks forward to working with other Democrats to unseat Emerson this fall.

Burk plans to spend less than $5,000 in the primary campaign.