EMERSON'S COFFER TOPS HECKEMEYER'S; LAWMAKER REPORTED $292,511, DEMOCRATIC OPPONENT $19,290

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson has raised seven times as much money as her leading Democratic opponent so far this year.

As of the end of March, the Cape Girardeau Republican was sitting on a war chest of $292,511.

In contrast, Democrat and former Scott County circuit judge Anthony "Tony" Heckemeyer had only $19,290 in his campaign coffer.

The candidates disclosed their campaign finances in first-quarter reports filed in mid-April with the Federal Election Commission.

Emerson has been raising money for her re-election effort since winning election to her late husband's 8th District congressional seat in November 1996. She has raised money at events in the district and in Washington.

She started this year with $143,640 in her campaign coffer, the finance report shows.

Emerson's campaign raised $206,496 and spent $58,016 during the first three months of this year.

The contributions included nearly $90,000 from individuals and more than $116,000 from numerous political action committees.

The PACs include associations representing restaurants, Realtors, bankers, insurance companies and agricultural groups.

Heckemeyer didn't begin raising funds until after he formally announced his candidacy and resigned as circuit judge in late February.

The Committee to Elect Tony Heckemeyer raised $29,400 and spent $10,610 from Feb. 26 through March 31, the financial report shows. All but $1,000 of Heckemeyer's money has come from individual contributions. He received $500 from the Scott County Democratic Central Committee and $500 from the Farm Credit PAC based in Washington, D.C.

Both sides admit money matters in political races.

Lloyd Smith, Emerson's chief of staff, said congressional candidates have to spend money on political advertising and commercials to get their message to the voters.

At 18,000 square miles, Southeast Missouri's 8th District is the largest congressional district geographically in the state. The district covers 26 counties and has nearly 600,000 residents.

Smith said the district is larger than Switzerland. With such a huge area to cover, political advertising in newspapers, on radio and television, and by mail is essential, Smith said.

"Quite frankly, advertising costs are higher now than they were two years ago. That impacts what you do," he said.

The Team Emerson campaign spent some $800,000 in 1996 and could approach $1 million this year, Smith said.

A major cost item is television advertising, he said.

With major races in Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky, candidates will be vying for the best time slots to air their commercials. Candidates will be paying premium prices to reach the voters, he said.

Emerson said she is pleased with her campaign's fund-raising success so far. She said she is grateful for the financial contributions of Southeast Missourians and organizations such as the National Rifle Association and farm groups.

It is expensive to run for office, Emerson said. "As a result, I am very grateful for the thoughtfulness of everyone who believes that I am doing a good job and who offers their financial assistance."

Heckemeyer expects to raise $750,000 for his election effort. He said such funding is essential to his effort to unseat Emerson.

But Heckemeyer said he can't match Emerson dollar for dollar. "If money decides who will win the race, she will win the race," he said.

Heckemeyer said Emerson has the war chest and an established campaign staff. Incumbents are constantly raising money for their re-election efforts, he said.

Emerson's campaign office in Cape Girardeau hasn't shut down since the 1996 election. It has been manned by Atalie Ebersole, Emerson's paid campaign manager. In mid-April, another person joined the Emerson campaign as a paid staffer.

Heckemeyer has yet to hire a campaign manager. He has no paid staff. He operates his campaign from his former law office in Sikeston. The commercial space once housed a dress shop operated by his wife, Betty.

More recently, he rented the space to the operators of a gift and flower shop. That business moved to new quarters about a month ago.

Heckemeyer said he and his wife man the campaign office, along with his two sisters and two volunteers.

Heckemeyer said he likely will hire a campaign manager at some point. He said some prospective managers already have called him.

"I have had people ask for $4,000 to $6,000 a month plus expenses to run my campaign," he said.

Heckemeyer said he plans to spend a lot of time on the telephone soliciting money for his campaign.