ZMICK, ZIEGENHORN TO COMPETE IN 160TH; BOTH WAITING FOR SESSION'S END

State Reps. Dennis Ziegenhorn and Ollie Amick, pitted against each other in the Democratic primary this year due to re-districting, both say they are concentrating on finishing this year's legislative session before shifting their campaigns into high gear.

"It's difficult to campaign and meet the needs of the legislature, but I'll be there," said Amick, who changed his residence from Scott City to Benton so he would be in the new 160th District. "I've been contacting people, especially in the Sikeston area; but other than that I'm just doing my job representing people in my area.

"Once the session ends, I'll hit high gear. I've campaigned before."

Ziegenhorn, of Sikeston, said, "I'm not in high gear yet, but after we get this session over I'll get rolling."

So far the 44-year old Ziegenhorn has focused most of his campaign attention on distributing bumper stickers. He boasts of having several hundred around the district, many of which he personally put on cars.

Just as the new district moves Amick into new territory in Sikeston, Ziegenhorn finds himself with large areas of north Scott County that include Benton, Kelso, and most of Scott City, and the Bertrand area of Mississippi County.

"With the session going on, it's hard to get into new areas," said Ziegenhorn. "But we're going to be up there and ask people for their vote. We're going to get out and introduce ourselves to the new area and ask people for their support. I want to be responsive to the new area as well as the old area."

The present legislative session ends May 15. Ziegenhorn has been tied up in his role as chairman of the House Insurance Committee. He is cosponsor of a major worker's compensation reform bill that should pass the House this week and dominate the final four weeks of the session.

Amick, as a veteran of 27 years on the Scott City Board of Education, has been devoting much of his attention this year to education, in particular ways to increase funding, and a re-write of the school foundation formula.

In his campaign, Ziegenhorn said he plans to focus on his record as a responsive legislator who tries to keep the views of the people in mind.

"I'm a representative. I return phone calls and am very responsive to my people," said Ziegenhorn. "I listen to their views and try my best to vote their views. I have always considered myself more of a representative than a legislator.

"I've passed 10 bills in the last 12 years, but my primary goal is to be a representative and take care of the district. We are a service agency between the constituency and the bureaucrats. I take pride in doing that."

Amick said a key focus of his campaign will be education and its future.

"The primary interest in our area is, what are schools doing wrong and what are schools doing right? People will ultimately answer whether we have the kind of education in Southeast Missouri and the state that we need.

"My conclusion is that we are getting a good value in Southeast Missouri. But I believe we need more support from the family unit in our schools. I'm not sure we can do that through legislation; part of that must come from the grassroots. Schools need to do a better job of bringing people into school management and make the community part of the schools."

Amick said he is a strong school supporter, but education is now something that is important not only for children but all ages. "I don't believe you can be a school supporter and not support a lot of other good programs. They all tie together," he said.

Like Ziegenhorn, Amick prides himself on strong constituent services during his four years in the House representing north Scott County and most of Mississippi County.

"Meeting the needs of the people - serving people and representing people who are seldom heard from is quite important," said Amick.

Ziegenhorn, who has a real estate business in Sikeston, has not been challenged for his seat since first winning it in 1980. That year he defeated incumbent Democrat Clifford LaPlant and then defeated Richard Powell in the general election.

He is no stranger to competitive politics. His father, the late Eldon Ziegenhorn, was an associate commissioner of Scott County for many years.

Amick, 72, is retired from Amick-Burnett funeral homes, which he operated in Scott City, Chaffee, Benton, Oran, and Sikeston.

Tight races for the Missouri House are nothing new to Amick, who first won his seat in 1988 after two previous unsuccessful attempts. In 1990, Betty Hearnes, who had given up the seat two years before to run for governor, made a comeback attempt but Amick won.

On most votes in the House, Ziegenhorn and Amick take identical positions, as do most Bootheel lawmakers. Two notable exceptions recently were when Ziegenhorn voted for a constitutional amendment allowing a video lottery and earmarking lottery proceeds for education, and against a bill that would have provided an opportunity for citizens to get a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

Amick voted opposite on the bills, which were both approved and sent to the Senate.

Ziegenhorn said since the two are similar on most votes, it will be difficult to run an issues campaign. He said he thinks the decision for voters may boil down to which man will represent them the best.

Ziegenhorn said it's unfortunate they have to face each other; had it not been for the drawing of new districts to reflect population changes done every 10 years, both would likely be running unopposed.

"Ollie is a victim of circumstance - a victim of redistricting. We're both victims of circumstance," said Ziegenhorn. "I think Ollie has been a great representative. As far as I'm concerned, he's a fine man."

Amick is not as generous in his comments about Ziegenhorn, and harbors some hard feelings toward Ziegenhorn because of his role in the redistricting process.

"We tolerate each other," said Amick when asked to describe his relationship. Both have nearby offices on the fourth floor of the Capitol overlooking the Missouri River.

Late last summer the 18 member House Redistricting Commission came up with a plan that put the incumbents together, but about equally divided population between the old districts of both representatives.

But Ziegenhorn, in an effort to keep all of Sikeston in one district and to help Rep. Gene Copeland, D-New Madrid, get a larger share of his home county, intervened with the commission and was successful in getting a late change.

Amick's old district was carved three ways. Instead of having an almost 50-50 split, Amick wound up with about a third of his old district in the new 160th and the rest in and around Sikeston.

"He (Ziegenhorn) assisted in my demise from the so-called fair district to the weighted district," said Amick. "He was definitely involved."

Ziegenhorn said he was just trying to keep Sikeston in one district and help Copeland, the senior member of the General Assembly, get more of New Madrid County. "Being the senior member of the House, I tried to help him," said Ziegenhorn.

"I wish Ollie had his district and I wish I had mine, but that just didn't work out," said Ziegenhorn. "I've always been raised the type of person to take care of someone else's problem before I take care of mine. But in this particular case I took care of myself."

He said: "I'm looking forward to campaigning. I guess it's in my blood from my dad. We'll try to meet as many people as possible and show that we will be responsive to them and listen to them.

"In life, when you meet people, you never lose."

Even though the final district leaves Amick at a disadvantage, Amick believes he can make up the difference with a strong campaign.

"I won't have as much money available as he will. When you have ties to insurance companies there is almost an open door to fund-raising," said Amick. "Being head of the insurance committee and a member of the banking committee gives you ties to money."

He said: "My committees deal with areas like schools and farmers, and none of those create large funds. But I need votes, not money."

Amick said he has no desire to end his career in the Missouri House after just two terms. "I have a few things yet I want to accomplish before I leave the legislature," he said.

Although both are incumbents, Amick figures any anti-incumbency sentiment might work in his favor. Ziegenhorn is seeking his seventh term, Amick his third.

"I can say I'm less of an incumbent than Dennis is," said Amick.