VOTERS IN 156TH TO FILL VACANT SEAT TODAY

DEXTER - For the third time in a little over seven years, voters of the 156th state representative district are going to the polls in a special election to fill a vacancy for their seat in the Missouri House of Representatives.

Polls will be open until 7 p.m. today as Democrat Marilyn Williams and Republican Jerry Seabaugh battle for the right to claim the seat vacated by Jerry Howard.

The candidates were chosen last month by the legislative district committees of each party.

The 156th district includes most of Stoddard County, most of Bollinger County including Marble Hill and Zalma, and the Puxico area of Wayne County.

Howard, who ran unopposed for re-election in November, resigned Dec. 20 after winning a special election to the state Senate from the 25th district on Dec. 4. The previous senator, Stephen Sharp, of Kennett, gave up his seat to accept an appointment as circuit judge for Stoddard and Dunklin counties last fall.

Howard was elected to the House from the 156th district in a special election in the fall of 1987 after Bob Barney resigned to accept an appointment as associate circuit judge in Stoddard County.

Barney won the seat in a special election in December 1983, following the resignation of Gary Smith.

Whoever wins today's election will fill out the remainder of Howard's term, which runs through 1992. The winning candidate will be sworn into office as soon as election results can be certified by county clerks and the secretary of state's office.

Williams and Seabaugh are both making their first bid for elective office.

Williams, 36, lives on a family farm near Dudley, which her husband Rick operates. They have a grain farming operation and are also involved in "aqua-culture." She also manages several restaurants and is owner with her husband of the Fiddlers Restaurants in Dexter and Malden. They are co-owners with her parents of the Fisherman's Net Restaurant in Cape Girardeau.

She is a native of Stoddard County.

Seabaugh, 43, is employed by Autry-Morlan Chevrolet-Cadillac in Dexter as a salesman and lease manager. Before joining the firm in 1983, he worked 13 years for Missouri Illinois Tractor in Cape Girardeau.

In 1977 he moved to Dexter after having lived near Jackson for about eight years. Seabaugh was born and raised in Bollinger County.

Seabaugh is hoping that his Bollinger County roots will help him today. Special elections normally have low turnouts, and he is counting on residents of that county treating him as a hometown boy and turning out to support him.

Seabaugh's father, Truman, served as mayor of Marble Hill in the early 1970s, and his brother, Lindell, was on the city council during the consolidation of Marble Hill and Lutesville several years ago.

Both candidates agree that bringing more jobs to the area will be a top priority.

In his campaign, Seabaugh has discussed other issues like education, help for senior citizens and improving the agricultural economy.

Williams has stressed state funding as another big issue and the need to keep spending for state services and programs within budget. Williams has indicated a need to review both existing programs and new programs carefully in making budget decisions.

Both have declined to support tax increases for education. Seabaugh believes more funds from education can come from eliminating waste in state government; Williams believes the present foundation formula should be reviewed to see that funds are distributed equitably and that any tax increases should be directed toward corporations.