PARK HILLS, Mo. -- Tommy Sowers and U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson verbally sparred over questions of leadership at the final debate Monday, ending with what appeared to be a terse moment immediately after the microphones were turned off.

"I believe Jo Ann intended that to stay between candidates," Sowers said afterward. "I'm going to respect that."

With two weeks until the Nov. 2 election, the fourth and final debate offered the 8th District congressional candidates a chance to fire parting shots before voters cast their ballots.

The closing statements between the top two candidates culminated with the strongest language of the debate, with Emerson, the 14-year incumbent Republican, and Sowers, the Democratic challenger, chiding each other over what constitutes a true leader.

"We have different leadership styles," Emerson said. "Mr. Sowers said in the Army, he learned how to ram things down people's throats. That's not leadership, that's bullying."

Sowers responded, "Confusing a skill with leadership is an insult to me and all the veterans out there. Leadership is having a vision and sticking to it. Leadership is not waiting for a crisis and then blaming other people."

The debate, the fourth in eight days, was held on the campus of Mineral Area College in its 300-seat Fine Arts Theatre. Also participating were candidates Larry Bill and Rick Vandeven. Bill is an independent, and Vandeven is a Libertarian.

The rest of the 75-minute debate was highlighted by topics that have emerged time and again during the 18-month campaign -- campaign finance reform, the economy, immigration, trade agreements and what to do in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Emerson chastised Sowers on where his campaign contributions came from, claiming that 80 percent of his donors were from out of state, specifically questioning money from those on both coasts.

"Why are they interested in Southeast Missouri?" she asked. "They know that Mr. Sowers will back Nancy Pelosi's liberal agenda."

Sowers fired back, saying that Emerson is beholden to lobbyist groups. Emerson is "of, by and for the lobbyists instead of, and by and for the people," he said. "Ninety-seven percent of my donations came from 4,000 individuals from around the nation."

Emerson took Sowers to task for his reversal in supporting President Barack Obama's health care reform law and then changing his stance to oppose it.

"Early on, he said he was for the health care law and said it would be good for the 8th District," Emerson said.

But it was the economy, Sowers said, that would be his No. 1 priority if elected. He said the primary culprit for lost jobs is the free trade legislation that has "decimated" jobs in rural America. Emerson voted for 12 of 13 free trade agreements, Sowers said.

He would work to repeal those and place an emphasis on infrastructure like broadband and cell phone connectivity, he said, which would make the 8th District a more attractive place for new college graduates to stay.

"The 8th District is worse in this area than what I had in Baghdad," said Sowers, a Green Beret veteran who served two tours in Iraq. "And your tax dollars are paying for the reception in Baghdad."

Emerson agreed that fixing the economy is crucial, especially with the uncertainty created by health care laws, environmental regulations, the possible expiration of President Goerge W. Bush's tax cuts. Those issues need to be worked on, she said, to create a better economic climate.

smoyers@semissourian.com

388-3642

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