SE Missouri now has bevy of leaders

After years of being a forgotten region when it came to leadership in state government, Southeast Missouri is on a roll.

The latest: Rod Jetton, Republican representative from Marble Hill, already has been tapped to be speaker of the House in 2005.

There are a few conditions, the biggest one being that Republicans must retain their new majority in the House. But it is impressive that the party's leaders already have joined in making such a decision, which they accurately say will prevent a power struggle after the November 2004 elections.

Jetton certainly has shown himself worthy of such a leadership role. Near the beginning of his political career, he walked almost all the way from Marble Hill to Jefferson City to bring attention to the sad state of many Missouri roads. He was first elected to the House in 2000 and became speaker pro tem, the No. 2 House post, this year -- a meteoric rise.

Always energetic, Jetton never backs off. He states his opinions proudly and strongly, representing the views of his constituents. So when Jetton said that, as speaker, he would continue pushing the pro-business, small-government agenda House Republicans championed this year, you can believe him.

Jetton, 36, would replace House Speaker Catherine Hanaway of Warson Woods, who plans to run for secretary of state. He would become the first House speaker from Southeast Missouri since Willis H. Meredith, a Poplar Bluff Democrat who held the post from 1933 through 1934.

The dry spell for Southeast Missourians in high state office was broken a few years ago with Cape Girardeau resident Bekki Cook's appointment to the secretary of state position in 1995 and subsequent election in 1996. Cook now is seeking to become lieutenant governor.

In January 2001, state Sen. Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau became the first Republican to hold the top spot in the Missouri Senate in more than a half-century.

House Majority Floor Leader Jason Crowell of Cape Girardeau, elected in 2000, was named to the lower chamber's No. 3 spot this year. As Kinder raises money for a campaign to become lieutenant governor, Crowell is eyeing the Senate position that would come open -- a possible promotion in state government for both of them.

The obvious benefits of having Southeast Missouri power players is that more attention will be given to this part of the state.

Also on a positive note, it demonstrates that the rest of the state has faith in our elected officials' abilities to execute the responsibility of leadership positions.