TWO DEMOCRATS VIE FOR PRIMARY CONGRESS NOMINATION

Democratic congressional candidates Earl Durnell and Bob Camp say the nation needs campaign finance reform.

Both men are running against "Corporate America" in their effort to win the 8th District congressional seat. The winner of the Aug. 8 primary will face incumbent Republican Jo Ann Emerson in November.

Both men filed for the seat on the last day of the filing period in March. Also filing on the last day was Libertarian John B. Hendricks Jr. of Jackson. He has no opposition in his party in the primary.

Durnell is a Cabool, Mo., cattle rancher. Camp is a Cape Girardeau musician. Both men said they filed to give voters a choice when it appeared going into the last day of filing that Emerson would face no opposition this fall in her re-election bid.

Campaign finance reform is the centerpiece of Camp's campaign. The 49-year-old Girardeau guitarist said he a single-issue candidate.

"I have one issue and campaign promise and one special-interest group," said Camp.

"The issue is campaign finance reform. My position is that I have no money and I am accepting no donations," he said.

Camp isn't actively campaigning. He has no yard signs or other campaign literature.

Camp plays in a rhythm and blues band called the New Memphis Mafia. He lives in Cape Girardeau, but maintains his voting address at his parents' home in Scott City, Mo.

If he should win the primary, Camp said he might do some campaigning. "I have considered the possibility of booking gigs around the district," he said.

"I am sure I don't want to campaign in a traditional sense," said Camp, who pointed out that he was the "Easter Bunny" at a Cape Girardeau shopping mall.

"If I should get elected, I will vote the conscience of the majority of citizens," said Camp.

"I will vote the way the majority wants to go," he said.

Camp quipped that his only special interest is the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team.

He said he was initially approached about running as one of filmmaker Michael Moore's "potted plant" candidates, a move designed as a humorous criticism of traditional political campaigns.

Camp said the nation's corporations are the running the show when it comes to elections. They pour lots of money into candidates' campaigns, he said. The result, said Camp, is that candidates are beholden to special interest groups

"Corporations have taken over government," he said.

Unlike Camp, Durnell previously has run for office.

This is Durnell's third try for the congressional seat. He twice ran as a Republican, in 1994 and 1996.

He ran against Emerson's late husband, U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, in the 1994 Republican primary. He garnered 31 percent of the vote in a losing effort.

In the 1996 primary, he collected 49 percent of the vote in a narrow GOP loss to Richard Kline of Gypsy for a meaningless party nomination. Jo Ann Emerson was forced to run as an Independent in the 1996 general election after the death of her husband, but enjoyed the full support of the Republican Party.

Durnell switched parties shortly before the 1996 November election and endorsed Democratic candidate Emily Firebaugh.

Durnell grew up in a Republican family. But Durnell said he became a Democrat because of his growing unhappiness with the power of big corporations.

"They are for corporate America. They are for the rich," Durnell said of the Republican Party.

"The purpose of government is to promote the general welfare of the people, not to promote the general welfare of corporate America," he said.

Durnell acknowledged that he is up against a well-financed candidate in Emerson and a solid campaign organization. "They know how to win elections," said Durnell, who had spent less than $5,000 going into the last two weeks before the August primary.

But Durnell said he might sink $20,000 to $30,000 into his campaign before the primary. If he wins the primary, Durnell estimated he would have to spend $70,000 to $80,000 for the general election.

A lifelong farmer, Durnell said the Republican-crafted "Freedom to Farm Act" has been disastrous for farmers.

He said government needs to regulate production as it did prior to the current farm law.

Without federal production controls, farmers will continue to overproduce and further fuel low prices for crops and livestock, he said.

The government should demand foreign nations lower their tariffs on American farm products, Durnell said. If that doesn't occur, the United States should raise its tariffs on agricultural products from other countries.

Durnell wants a moratorium on mergers of food cartels. A few companies control much of the grain elevator and meat packing business. That leaves farmers with little choice as to where to sell their crops or livestock, he said.

Corporate farming operations also are hurting the family farmer, he said. "The family farmer is going to have to be rescued,' he said. If that doesn't happen, consumers will face higher prices for food, Durnell said.

The candidates

Earl Durnell

Age: 64

Hometown: Cabool

Party: Democrat

Job History: Fourth-generation cattle rancher.

Education: Graduated from Cabool High School. Attend Southwest Missouri State University for two years.

Personal: Married. He and his wife, Emily, have six children.

Bob Camp

Age: 49

Hometown: Registered to vote in Scott City, but lives in Cape Girardeau.

Party: Democrat

Job History: Plays guitar in the New Memphis Mafia, a rhythm and blues band. Has worked as stage manager at the Pyramid in Memphis, Tenn., and as production manager for the BarKays band in New Orleans.

Education: Graduated from Scott City High School, attended Southeast Missouri State University.

Personal: Married. He has two children from a previous marriage. His wife, Mary, has three children from a previous marriage.