THOMPSON NOTCHES WIN IN 8TH DISTRICT

James L. "Jay" Thompson, who narrowly lost the Democratic nomination for Congress two years ago to Thad Bullock, managed to capture the nomination Tuesday night.

Thompson, who is retired from the Navy and from the state of Missouri, finished with about 39 percent of the vote in a four-way race. By winning the Democratic nomination, he earned the right to meet 8th District U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson in the general election.

Emerson, a Republican who is seeking an eighth term, was unopposed in Tuesday's primary.

With 92 percent of the precincts reporting, Thompson had 20,278 votes, or 39 percent. Bullock, a retired Cape Girardeau businessman, had 16,141 votes; Gene Curtis, an insurance agent from Matthews, had 8,998; and Don Hager, an attorney from Farmington, had 6,854 votes.

Thompson, who waited for election returns at his home in Bourbon, said he wants to represent the mainstream Americans of Southeast Missouri in Congress.

"I think we did real good," said Thompson. "We were building on what we started two years ago. We worked real hard and it's paid off."

Thompson called the primary race "clean and fair." He said the race ahead of him is the one he fears most.

"I'm going up against an entrenched congressman, who people in this area have become accustomed to," said Thompson. "It won't by any means be an easy run."

Thompson described himself as a hard campaigner and a would-be dedicated civil servant.

"I think in Congress I can be more inclusive with all political factions in the area," he said. "The bottom line is that I'm going to do the best I can to represent the best interests of Southeast Missouri citizens on a national level. I believe I can be a very effective legislator."