STATE SENATE RACE: HEARNES TOUTS HER EXPERIENCE AS LAWMAKER

State Senate candidate Betty Hearnes said Wednesday that her past experience as a Democratic state lawmaker would benefit Southeast Missouri State University when it comes to state funding.

Hearnes said the Missouri Senate is run by Democratic lawmakers. "The state Senate is a Democratic organization; if you send a Democrat to the state Senate that person will be a chairman of a committee and will handle the legislation."

A Republican lawmaker wouldn't be given such power. "For those of us who have been there, that's the way it works," she told a meeting of about 35 university employees and Faculty Senate members at the University Center.

The Charleston Democrat is seeking the 27th Senate seat.

She is opposed by Peter Kinder, a Cape Girardeau Republican. Kinder is scheduled to address the Faculty Senate and other interested university personnel in a meeting at the University Center at 3 p.m. Friday.

Both hope to replace Sen. John Dennis, D-Benton, who is retiring after 16 years in office.

Hearnes said she has been a longtime supporter of the university. She said that during her 10 years as a state representative she worked to get funding for various capital improvements.

She said that as senator she would attempt to secure state funding for construction of a new business school at Southeast, one of the institution's top priorities.

Among those in the audience was Marvin Proffer, a former Democratic state representative from Jackson and now lobbyist for the university.

Following the 40-minute meeting, Proffer echoed Hearnes comments about having an experienced lawmaker in Jefferson City.

He said Hearnes could help Southeast the most in the 34-member Missouri Senate because she is a member of the majority party and is experienced.

Kinder has repeatedly accused Hearnes of being a "lifetime politician," something she denies.

"I am not a lifetime legislator," she said. "I am a lifetime musician and music teacher."

Hearnes said she has been involved in state government because she wants to serve the public. "I like government. I like public service. That's all there is to it."

She said that while a member of the General Assembly she successfully fought to get the higher education formula changed so Southeast would get its fair share of state funding.

"That's experience in the General Assembly and that's experience with your budget," said Hearnes.

She said the key issue is experience, something that is particularly important in the Senate where there are so few members.

Appropriations "don't just happen," said Hearnes. "In the Senate you've got one voice and that voice is going to serve six counties," she said of the 27th District seat.

Kinder has said Hearnes introduced little legislation during her decade in the state House. But Hearnes said Wednesday that she was involved with many bills as a co-sponsor.

Hearnes said she also chaired a committee that oversaw the state's prisons. "That is not an easy job, not a glamour job, not a romantic job, and you don't get any press."

She said: "I'm not a show horse; I am a work horse. I do like to work in the General Assembly."

Of herself, she said: "This is an experienced person. This is a person who stood in the trenches, who has done the work. That's experience."

Hearnes said Southeast has benefited from the efforts of former representative Proffer and Sen. Dennis.

"You've had Sen. Dennis and you've had Marvin Proffer, and they're not there anymore, and you need a strong voice," she said.

"We can't afford to lose that voice in Jefferson City," said Hearnes.

Four years ago Hearnes ran for governor and lost to John Ashcroft.

As a gubernatorial candidate, Hearnes said, she proposed an education plan patterned after that of Arkansas Gov. and presidential candidate Bill Clinton.

She said she met with Clinton four years ago and received a "lesson plan" from him concerning ways to improve education.

As to elementary and secondary education, Hearnes said she believes the state must change the foundation formula, the basic method by which it funds public schools.