KLINE TO CHALLENGE EMERSON; SEEKS TO SHRINK GOVERNMENT

Richard Kline admits that his chances of winning the Missouri 8th Congressional District Republican Primary are "slim to none." So why even bother to take on a powerhouse incumbent like Rep. Bill Emerson?

"This is not exactly a reason, but no person should ever go on a ballot without an opponent," Kline said.

However, his main motivation is a common one -- dissatisfaction with government and a desire to drastically change it.

"I ran across a government employee who had lost sight of the fact that he was a public servant working for citizens of the United States," Kline said. "When I tried to get it corrected there was no recourse. The man was completely protected because he worked for the federal government."

Kline, 56, resides in the small town of Gipsy in southwest Bollinger County. He has never before sought public office.

Emerson, who has held the 8th District Congressional seat since 1980, seldom faces any serious opposition from Democratic opponents and rarely is challenged in the Republican primary. This year's primary will be held Aug. 6.

Despite Emerson's name recognition and well-financed campaign, Kline believes he draws some advantage from the fact that, unlike Emerson, he isn't stuck in Washington. By stumping for votes everyday, Kline believes he can get out his message, which, he hopes, people will embrace.

"I will do the very best I can with what God gave me to do it with," he said.

A conservative, Kline is for smaller government and a return of power to the states and the people. He also takes a strong stance against abortion. His top three issues are elimination of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, tax reform and a return of prayer in schools and everyday life.

"All states have agriculture departments, and Missouri is no exception," he said. "There are no Missouri farms in Washington, D.C. Therefore, we must cut the agriculture department in half and kill it.

State agriculture departments, he said, should then work to remove regulations to return control of farming operations to farmers.

He also endorses a flat tax of 10 percent of income with 7 percent going to states and 3 percent to the federal government. All deductions would be eliminated. The rate, he said, would be allowed to increase only during times of national emergency.

In regard to prayer, he said too little of it is being done today. "There is power in prayer," Kline said. "It is a shame, this country was founded on a Christian, moral backbone, and it seems to have lost this."

Kline, retired from a career in the military, is married and has three adult sons.

He said Emerson's well-publicized fight with cancer did not play in his decision to oppose him.

"He will be healed," Kline said. "How do I know that? More prayers have gone out for him than perhaps anyone else, except for Ronald Reagan when he was shot."