STATE GOP PARTY CHANGES LEADERS, LOOKS TO ELECTIONS

Under the two-party political system, each party places a premium on winning the governor's mansion. This is true not merely because it is the chief executive office of state government, or because of the thousands of appointments a governor can make, but also for party leadership. Incumbent governors are the recognized leaders of their entire state party apparatus. When a political party doesn't hold the governor's mansion, such questions of leadership fall to the chairman of the state party committee. For parties out of power, this difficult task is an often thankless and frustrating job. Not infrequently under such circumstances it becomes difficult to get any high-caliber leader to agree to take the job. It is one sign of a healthy organism that the Missouri Republican State Committee held a spirited election for chairman over the weekend in Jefferson City. Two fine candidates contended vigorously for the post: Rolla lawyer David Steelman, the partys highly regarded young nominee for attorney general in 1992, and Kansas City lawyer and long-time conservative spokesman John "Woody" Cozad. Thirty-five votes are required to win on the 68-member committee. In a secret ballot, Cozad narrowly edged out Steelman by a vote of 36-32. Cozad's name should be familiar to Missourians, if not from his pithy radio commentaries, then from his past service on the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission or from his current service on the board of curators of the University of Missouri system. Many Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce members will remember Cozad's controversial talk on affirmative action at a First Friday Coffee several months ago.

In advance of next year's elections, the early signals Cozad is sending are good ones. He is pledging greater openness with all committee members, more frequent communication and a more pro-active approach to the job.

For our two-party system to work, we need strong leadership in both camps. The weekend's election of a new GOP chairman bodes well for the kind of vigorous competition that will serve all Missourians well in next year's elections.