FILING OPENING ENDS TRADITION

The first step in the 1996 Missouri election process begins Tuesday with the opening of the candidate filing period.

Candidates for statewide offices, congressional seats and state legislative seats will have until March 27 to file with the Secretary of State's Office in Jefferson City.

This year's filing period marks the end of a long-standing Missouri tradition.

In the past, candidates would hire people to stand in line for them -- sometimes for weeks -- so they could be assured of being the first to file for a particular office. That also gave them the perceived advantage of having their name listed first on the ballot.

This year, however, a lottery will determine the order the names of first-day filers will appear on the ballot. The names of those who file after the first day will be listed in the order they file.

"I think it's a great idea," said state Rep. Larry Thomason, D-Kennett. "It was always awkward to see everyone standing in line waiting for days to file."

The change resulted from an amendment to a 1995 elections bill endorsed by Secretary of State Rebecca Cook.

Under the old system, people waiting in line cluttered hallways with litter and often had to be managed by Capitol police, taking officer away from other duties.

"The purpose of the first day drawing is to eliminate the incentive for candidates to maintain this line," Cook said. "I feel we are restoring dignity to the process. I am pleased that there are no more lines and that candidates can focus on what is important to Missourians instead of standing in line."

Thomason said any advantage there once was to being first on the ballot has diminished significantly.

"I think going back maybe 20 years ago, being first on the ballot had some importance," Thomason said. "People who study such things have said it can mean up to a 3 percent difference and in a close race that can mean an election. But personally, I don't feel it has the importance it once did."

Improvements in communication and a better informed electorate, he said, make ballot placement largely irrelevant.

While he doesn't mind the lottery system, state Rep. Don Prost, D-Caruthersville, said he also saw no problem with the way things were done.

"If there is, in fact, an edge to having your name first, I guess it's not fair to those who willing take the extra effort to be first on the ballot," Prost said.

Under the new setup, candidates will draw a number from one to 999. At the end of business Tuesday, if there are multiple candidates of the same party filing for an office, they will be listed in ascending order of the numbers drawn. Candidates will not be allowed to withdraw and re-file for the same office on the first day.

Statewide offices up for election this year are governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state and treasurer.

Like Thomason, most other incumbent state legislators from Southeast Missouri plan to seek re-election. Among those planning to file: state Sens. Jerry T. Howard, D-Dexter, and Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, and state Reps. Bill Foster, R-Poplar Bluff; Joe Heckemeyer, D-Sikeston; Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau; Patrick Naeger, R-Perryville; Don Prost, D-Caruthersville; Mark Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff; David Schwab, R-Jackson; and Marilyn Williams, D-Dudley.

Also, U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, intends to seek a ninth term in his 8th District congressional seat.

The secretary of state's web site, located at http://mosl.sos.state.mo.us, will providea link to a candidate filing page. The page will list candidates' names, hometowns, party affiliations, date and time of filing and will be updated daily.