CARNAHAN PLANS TO SERVE FULL SECOND TERM

Gov. Mel Carnahan has decided to complete his second term as governor of Missouri -- a term that only began earlier this month. He ended speculation by announcing that he would not be a candidate for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Christopher Bond in the 1998 election.

The governor is to be commended for decided to serve a full second term and for making the decision swiftly. The state's residents deserve to have the full attention of their governor while he is in office.

Of course, Carnahan has not said what he wants to do when his term expires in January 2001. One option if to seek the U.S. Senate seat held by John Ashcroft. That race will be in the year 2000. If Carnahan chooses to seek that seat, he would have to devote several months of his last year in office to the campaign.