JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- After five Democratic state lawmakers resigned or died in recent months, Democratic Gov. Bob Holden acted quickly to set special elections to choose their replacements.

But a couple of months after a Republican lawmaker resigned, Holden has yet to set a special election for a successor.

In fact, the governor has waited so long that it now is logistically impossible to fill the seat before the legislature adjourns May 17. That's because it takes a minimum of 10 weeks from the date of a governor's decree for an election to be held.

Holden's delay means one less potential Republican vote in the state House, where Democrats hold an 85-75 majority.

For the 30,000-plus St. Louis County residents formerly represented by David Levin, Holden's delay means they will have no voice when the House casts crucial votes on the budget, transportation taxes or state aid for a St. Louis Cardinals baseball stadium.

Asked Friday whether he plans to set an election for Levin's seat, Holden replied: "I'll try to get to that."

Holden spokesman Jerry Nachtigal said the governor has been busy, but he acknowledged that politics has played a role in not setting a special election for the previously Republican seat.

"A Democratic governor is not going to be in a rush to fill a Republican vacancy, and a Republican governor would not be in a hurry to fill a Democratic vacancy," Nachtigal said.

No more than two months

However, a review of more than 25 special elections called by Republican Gov. John Ashcroft from 1985 through 1992 revealed no cases in which he waited more than two months to set an election.

Holden did rush to set special elections when several St. Louis Democrats left the legislature.

When Sen. John Scott announced his retirement Sept. 28, Holden issued an election order Oct. 1.

Kennedy's election to the Senate left his former House seat vacant. Holden received notice of the vacancy Dec. 21 and issued a special election order the next day.

After Democratic Reps. Louis Ford and Maida Coleman resigned Jan. 10 and Jan. 14, respectively, Holden acted on Jan. 14 to set a special election for both House seats.