Still a year away, the presidential race has captured an enormous amount of media and public attention. But if the Republican revolution of 1994 stays its course, who is elected president will have far less impact over voters' lives than who will be elected to state and local offices.

If conservatism continues to spread in this country, government must yield its immense power and return to its intended role. Government intrusion on the federal level will shrink as the influence of state and local government -- the most responsive to the voters -- grows.

Which brings me to what I consider a crucial election for Cape Girardeau-area voters in 1996: the Missouri gubernatorial race. I had the opportunity Thursday to meet one of the candidates for that office, Republican Bill Kenney of Lee's Summit.

Kenney, elected to the Missouri Senate in 1994, is best known as the Pro Bowl quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs in the early 1980s. Sen. Kenney wants to become Gov. Kenney and send Clinton-clone Mel Carnahan packing. He's got my vote.

Ex-football players make good political leaders. Let me qualify that. Pantywaist bench-warmers aren't good leaders. They are most apt to be appeasers and dealmakers if elected to office. After all, they just want a chance to play. Spoiled, bonus-baby superstars make lousy politicians too. Coddled all their life, they've never had to pack the gear through adversity. They crave approval and acceptance at the expense of a good fight.

But a guy like Kenney, a mediocre college player who was the second to last player selected in the 1978 NFL draft, not only won't avoid a fight, he'll relish it. His success in football -- he threw for more yards and completed more passes in the 1983 season than any quarterback in Chief's history -- is attributed more to hard work, a disciplined mind and a desire to win than to innate ability.

He approaches next year's gubernatorial race much the same way he played football. Kenney doesn't fear his opponent's strengths -- primarily name recognition and a formidable campaign war chest -- he attacks his weaknesses. Gov. Carnahan is a tax-and-spend liberal who lied about raising taxes in Missouri, lied about education reform and lacks the bold leadership this state needs.

What would Kenney do as governor? He will put together a plan to lower Missouri taxes. "The only tax reform is tax relief," he says. He points out that a Missouri family of four earning $50,000 a year pays higher taxes than does the same family in New York. Kenney would change that.

He also would work to end wasteful desegregation payments that gild small school districts in Kansas City and St. Louis at the expense of underfunded out-state districts like Cape Girardeau. Kenney rejects the national Goals 2000 educational reform effort, with its promise of federal dollars in exchange for outcomes-based education. He would send that money back to Washington and try to purge OBE from our public schools.

Kenney is pro-life and pro-capital punishment. As governor, he would shackle orange-clad state prisoners to chain gangs clearing weeds and crushing rock. Why shouldn't embarrassment and hard work be used to deter crime?

Tax relief, less government, local control over education and tough on crime is an easy sell with the voters. But after years of Democratic control in the Missouri Legislature, it might be tough to execute in Jefferson City.

But I get the feeling Bill Kenney is undaunted by the challenge. A long shot? Maybe. He's been the underdog before.

~Jay Eastlick is the news editor of the Southeast Missourian.