WEBSTER OFFERS AN AGGRESSIVE APPROACH TO MEET STATE NEEDS

(Third in a series.)

It seems only natural that Bill Webster's chosen career is politics and public service. It was an atmosphere he was born into and one that has shaped his approach to government and serving people.

"It is safe to say I was infected with the political bug at a very young age," says Webster, whose legendary father, the late Richard Webster, served 27 years in the Missouri Senate and six years in the House.

"I grew up exposed to it. I grew up believing public service was important and that part time citizen-legislators is the way the system should work," said Webster.

"I was exposed to what today I think people would nostalgically look back on as small-town, grassroots politics. We had cornbread and bean dinners on main street, and would have a speech... It was entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights in small towns."

In 1972 the first year 18-year olds had the right to vote young Webster was one of five 18-year-old delegates to attend the Republican National Convention.

Despite the upbringing in a political atmosphere, Webster said he was never "pushed" into politics.

In fact, the reason Webster decided to attend law school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City was to enhance his journalism career, not to forge a political one. Webster worked seven years in print and electronic media, and, during the Watergate era, he felt legal training would be an asset.

But after graduating from law school, Webster agreed to return to southwest Missouri and help his father close out a law practice in Joplin.

"I was very close to my father. I had some other job offers, but I felt an obligation to do that," he said.

In Joplin, Webster received encouragement to challenge a three-term incumbent Democratic state representative with a liberal voting record.

"It was a Democratic district but not a liberal district," he said. The incumbent spent more than $20,000 then unheard of for an out-state legislative race.

Webster subsequently won the election and was re-elected two years later. After four years, he was voted by colleagues as one of the most effective legislators in the General Assembly.

His father has proven to be both an asset and liability to Webster's campaigns.

"I inherit my father's friends, and I inherit his enemies. And he had quite a few of both," Webster said.

When he was elected Missouri's attorney general in 1984 at the age of 31, he became the youngest person to win the post since 1892.

With the Missouri attorney general's office spawning such past Republican stars as John Ashcroft and John Danforth, many viewed Webster as a rising GOP star who was destined to be governor in 1992.

Webster says he was aware of such talk, but contended his bid for attorney general was never part of a "grand scheme" to be governor.

"In fact, midway through my first term I would say it was the furthest thing from my mind," he said.

"There was a perception that the office was a stepping stone to something else. But that was not my intention. If I had viewed this office as a political platform, I certainly wouldn't have gotten involved in all the controversial issues we have."

Despite Webster's indifference, shortly after Ashcroft won his second term in 1988, polling data indicated many Republicans saw him as a future governor.

"When every poll that comes out says, `If the election were today, you would be elected governor,' you have to start thinking about that," Webster said.

He tested the waters with "Team Missouri", an organizing committee announced in January of 1991. Soon thereafter, Webster took the plunge and entered the race.

He said he considers the office of governor an opportunity to aggressively accomplish goals for the state. "It is the opportunity to look at things and say, `Where do we need to go? Can we make it better?'" he said.

"Ultimately, I think everybody's goal is to look at systems and say, `Can we make them more efficient, can we make them smarter, can we help the broadest number of people, and can we maximize job creation and opportunity?'"

Webster said the governor's "bully pulpit" also presents a unique opportunity to deal quickly with problems.

"I just think the opportunity to make public policy is quite a privilege and that there are opportunities out there for us to dramatically strengthen this state," he said.

"A governor has a platform and has the capacity to not only talk about policy, but to put the wheels in place to work with the legislature to make changes."

And Webster said a number of changes are in order.

"I do think we can make our welfare system smarter, and encourage people to work and finish their education and be more productive," he said. "I do think we can craft an aggressive economic development program that will move every part of this state forward and move it to the next level.

"It's the same thing that is so exciting about being attorney general: We'll see a problem, and (we) can actually do something about it."

Webster learned early in life that problem-solving is at the crux of public life. He recalled often sitting down to the supper table as a boy only to have someone stop by, knock on the door, and say: "Dick, I've got a problem."

Often, young Bill would sit in the living room and listen as his father tried to help. "He never asked them whether they were Republicans or Democrats or whether they had supported him. It didn't matter," he said.

"The valuable lesson I learned at an early age in my living room is that our job is to pay attention to what people are saying and are concerned about and not get hung up on whether they are a supporter of yours or an opponent."

Now, in his own political career, Webster views as negative only the time away from his family and occasional harassment from opponents of stands he's taken.

He and his wife, Susan, have three sons, ages 9, 8, and 2. "I try to end up at home every night and have breakfast with my children and then be home on Sunday," Webster said. "It takes a real understanding commitment on the part of the family."

Webster views his tenure as attorney general as the proudest achievement in his political career. He has taken steps to modernize the office, professionalize staff, and efficiently handle greater workloads.

Webster said cases handled by his consumer division have increased from 3,000-4,000 calls annually to between 40,000 and 60,000. Also, he has handled more environmental cases during his tenure than in the state's history, and has one of the highest rates of affirmation in the nation for criminal appeals.

Webster also said new prisons have been built during his term as attorney general, career criminals are serving longer sentences and programs have been established to assist crime victims.

"I think we have handled the office professionally. Overall, I would say the number of matters we handle is twice what it was when I came, (and) my staff budget has certainly not increased incrementally," Webster said. "We are very productive, have a good work record, and give taxpayers their money's worth."

Webster is one of three state officeholders running in the Republican primary. The others are Treasurer Wendell Bailey and Secretary of State Roy Blunt.

Asked to compare himself to the others, Webster stressed he has tried to avoid drawing comparisons and criticizing opponents in the primary.

"What it comes down to is there are not dramatic differences," he said. "We are all from southern Missouri, relatively conservative Republicans, who have served together and who have been friends. In this campaign I believe we have articulated substantial issues we feel need to be addressed.

"What it comes down to on the Republican side is we have to move beyond this sort of family decision, and first of all decide who is the most electable candidate in the fall. And while my opponents and I may have different opinions, I believe I am the most electable candidate in the fall and have the broadest base of support."

Webster said Missouri voters likely will base their decision for governor on whether they want a "change agent" for state government.

"I think for a lot of people, the answer is yes. Who do they believe is going to be the most aggressive change agent, and who do they want to run their government?" he said. "I think people want folks willing to pull the trigger, willing to be aggressive and willing to acknowledge the status quo is going to be unsatisfactory."