POLITICAL HELPERS

Southeast Missouri natives are playing key roles in this year's statewide elections in the Show Me State. On the Democratic side, Puxico native Roy Temple has just left the office of Gov. Mel Carnahan where he was chief of staff to manage the governor's re-election campaign. The 32-year-old Temple is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University who once worked for 8th District Democratic congressional nominee Wayne Cryts. Temple also worked for Russ Carnahan, the governor's son, who was the unsuccessful 1990 Democratic congressional nominee. He was deputy director of the governor's successful 1992 campaign before joining the official staff upon Carnahan's ascension to office in 1993. Temple served as deputy chief of staff until last year, when he replaced outgoing chief Roy Farinella, who left to engage in political consulting for various clients, including the governor.

Further, two alumni of this newspaper's news staff occupy roles as chief of communications for two of the six statewide constitutional officers of state government. Both are serving Democrats: Chuck Miller works in State Treasurer Bob Holden's office, while Jim Grebing, previously the longtime political editor here, joined Secretary of State Bekki Cook last year.

On the Republican side, Cape Girardeau native Jack Oliver, 27, has just departed his job as deputy chief of staff for Missouri Sen. John Ashcroft for a job directing Victory '96. This is the name given the coordinated Republican campaigns of presidential nominee Bob Dole as well as all GOP campaigns for statewide and legislative offices. Oliver has already been through three successful statewide campaigns for GOP senatorial nominees in 1988 (Jack Danforth), 1992 (Kit Bond) and 1994 (John Ashcroft).

David Barklage, a former Cape Girardeau councilman, is directing the effort by the House Republican Campaign Committee to win the seven seats necessary to place the lower house of the General Assembly in Republican hands for the first time in 42 years.

One of the few things all these players agree on is that Missouri is a key battleground state in this year's presidential election. Their service in such key roles is a mark of distinction for folks in this part of Missouri. It also confirms that service in government and politics offers lots of opportunities for bright and energetic young people of integrity.