GOP PLANS EARNEST EFFORT TO REGAIN STATE REINS

Missouri Republicans gathered last weekend in Kansas City for their annual Lincoln Day meeting and festivities in a hopeful mood.

Following a 1992 scandal that defeated most of the state ticket that year, a state GOP that dominated most statewide offices throughout the 1980s has fallen back to the point where they control none of the six now. During this same period, however, Republican strength has been slowly but steadily growing in both houses of the General Assembly. This is especially true in the Senate, where the partisan divide of 18 Democrats and 16 Republicans is only one seat away from a tie.

The GOP will offer a strong stable of candidates in this fall's contests for the statewide offices. For governor their candidate is U.S. Rep. Jim Talent of St. Louis, who has never lost an election in a career dating back to his first race for state representative in 1984. Talent is a conservative in his party's mainstream who quickly emerged as a leader when first elected to Congress in 1992. He is attempting to become the first St. Louisan elected governor from either party since 1940.

In the race for lieutenant governor there will be a three-way primary between state Sen. Bill Kenney of Lee's Summit, St. Charles County executive Joe Ortwerth and former state treasurer Wendell Bailey. The colorful Bailey will especially add spice to the contest.

The other two offices where Republicans see strong chances for victory are state treasurer and secretary of state. For the latter their candidate is Platte County prosecutor Todd Graves, and for the former, state Rep. Matt Blunt of Springfield. Both are attractive and energetic young men.

Missouri is a swing state in which Democrats have controlled both houses of the Legislature since the early 1950s. Republicans will have to work overtime if they are to be smiling in November.