THAD BULLOCK ANNOUNCES EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL RACE

Thad Bullock of Cape Girardeau intends to make his eighth run next year for the U.S. House of Representatives.

"I don't look upon my so-called losses as anything but a gain of experience," Bullock, a Democract, said Wednesday. "I feel good by knowing the ropes."

In his previous campaigns, Bullock, 78, only captured the Democratic nomination once, narrowly winning in a field of six candidates in 1992. Rep. Bill Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, easily defeated Bullock in the general election.

Emerson has already indicated that he intends to run for re-election to the 8th District seat he has held since 1980.

In 1994, Bullock came in a distant second in the primary to James L. Thompson of Bourbon, the runner-up in 1992. Bullock never came close to winning the nomination in his other campaigns in 1968, 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1990.

Bullock, a farmer, businessman and professional piano player who is a fixture at senior centers during campaign season, said the battle over reductions in Medicare and other assistance to the elderly will be the biggest issue in 1996.

"I'm ready to run and feel very confident," Bullock said.