WILL SEEK DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION: ST. LOUIS' MAYOR SCHOEMEHL TO LAUNCH GUBERNATORIAL BID

Vince Schoemehl, who is serving his third term as mayor of St. Louis, will formally kick off his campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor in Cape Girardeau next week.

Schoemehl, who has been traveling the state laying the groundwork for a gubernatorial bid for over two years, will announce his candidacy at 1:15 p.m. Tuesday in the program lounge of the University Center on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University.

A media advisory from the candidate's headquarters in St. Louis said that Schoemehl will announce "at a rally with hundreds of his supporters" and promises "flags, balloons, banners in blue and yellow; enthusiastic crowds."

Schoemehl said he is making his announcement at universities around the state because he is a graduate of a Missouri public university and his candidacy has been endorsed by the Missouri National Education Association.

His main rival in the August Democratic primary will be Lt. Gov. Mel Carnahan.