NAME DROPPING BEGINS FOR 1996 GOVERNOR'S RACE

Just as the doors have opened on the 1996 presidential race, so are state prognosticators gearing up for Missouri's gubernatorial race.

One name that has been mentioned is familiar to Southeast Missouri. Charles Kruse, a Dexter native who still owns the 600-acre, four-generation family farm in Stoddard County, leads an organization that some feel has the greatest political clout in the state: the Missouri Farm Bureau. The bureau has about 82,000 member families.

Kruse hasn't jumped into the 1996 governor's race, but he hasn't ruled it out. He's waiting for more feedback from the rank and file Farm Bureau members.

Kruse is no newcomer to politics, although he has never sought elective public office himself. He ran the state Agriculture Department for then-Gov. Ashcroft from 1985 to 1991. He also helped direct gubernatorial races for both Kit Bond and Ashcroft during the 1980s. There's also speculation he might run for a national Farm Bureau leadership position.

The Farm Bureau has long been a potent force in Missouri politics. Recently, the bureau joined with Gov. Mel Carnahan to draft a tax-limitation amendment. Discussion on this new amendment began the day after Hancock II was rejected by Missouri voters last November. The Carnahan-Farm Bureau plan calls for a vote of the people if new taxes exceed 1 percent of total state revenue, which would be about $52 million. Would this liaison with Carnahan on tax limitation have any effect on Kruse's possible entry in the governor's race?

Over the years, Kruse and Carnahan have found themselves at odds. Two years ago, the governor fired Kruse as the No. 2 official of the Missouri National Guard.

It's certainly too early for this newspaper to lend support to any candidates for Missouri governor. But it isn't too early to encourage good candidates from both parties to join the race. Good candidates make for better government.