ZIEGENHORTN MAY RECONSIDER SENATE RACE

SIKESTON - If a Missouri House Redistricting Commission plan puts state Reps. Dennis Ziegenhorn and Ollie Amick in the same district, Ziegenhorn may re-consider his decision not to run for the state Senate next year, he said Sunday.

"This totally changes the complexion of what I might do," said Ziegenhorn. "Maybe I made my announcement a little too soon about my Senate intentions. If I'm going to run a race, I might as well run the big one.

"I won't be running against Ollie Amick; it will be Sikeston against Scott City," said Ziegenhorn. "Somebody from Scott City does not want to be represented by someone from Sikeston. North Scott County won't be against me as Dennis Ziegenhorn, but they will be against me because I am from Sikeston."

The new make-up of the district would pit Amick, of Scott City, against Ziegenhorn, of Sikeston, in what would be a brutal political battle. Traditionally, voters in north Scott County have rallied behind candidates from their area, while voters in Sikeston have tended to support candidates from their city when offered a north Scott County alternative.

"I won't be running against Ollie Amick; it will be Sikeston against Scott City," said Ziegenhorn. "Somebody from Scott City does not want to be represented by someone from Sikeston. North Scott County won't be against me as Dennis Ziegenhorn, but they will be against be because I am from Sikeston."

One of the reasons he opted out of the Senate race, Ziegenhorn said, is over concern that people in Cape Girardeau County might not support someone from Sikeston.

Amick said Saturday he would likely take his chances against Ziegenhorn if put in his district. Amick said he has no desire to run for the Senate.

Ziegenhorn, serving his sixth term in the Missouri House, stressed his preference still is to remain a representative. However, the make-up of a new district he would share with Amick could lead him to take another look at the Senate race, he said.

Another factor, said Ziegenhorn, is what the final make-up of the senatorial district will be. A 10-member commission has failed in its effort to come up with 34 new districts, and so a panel of six state appeals court judges will meet later this fall to draw the map.

Sen. John Dennis of Benton announced in July he would not seek a fifth term. Ziegenhorn, who was considered one of the likely candidates to succeed Dennis, announced Aug. 9 he would seek re-election to the House.

Ziegenhorn has not been challenged at the ballot box since he unseated one-term Rep. Clifford LaPlant in a Democratic primary in 1980 and then defeated a Republican.

"It's not that I was planning on not having an opponent as state representative, but with this plan it automatically gives me one and a very new district," said Ziegenhorn. "It is kind of frustrating that they have done this to me, but maybe they had no choice."

Unlike many other representatives, Ziegenhorn has not been active in discussions over new House districts. He had anticipated maintaining much of his present district.

"Maybe I should have been worried after all," he said.

"My concern is not so much about an opponent, but a screwed up district where I have to take care of people who don't live in my district," said Ziegenhorn. "Nobody will know who their representative is until they get into the polls. I don't think they (redistricting commission) are thinking about providing constituent services; redistricting should be done for the people, not for legislators to be re-elected."

Even though Morehouse and the part of Sikeston in New Madrid County is in the district of Rep. Gene Copeland, D-New Madrid, Ziegenhorn said people there always call him for help with problems.

"Anybody who lives in Sikeston and Morehouse is going to call me, regardless of who their representative is. And I am sure there are people in Oran who call Ollie and they should be calling me."

Ziegenhorn said he'd wait to see what happens with House and Senate redistricting and talk with some people before making a final decision on 1992.

He said: "One thing seems certain, though: For the first time in 11 years it looks like I'm going to have to hold a fund-raiser."