PEROT'S COORDINATOR IN MISSOURI SAYS STATEWIDE GROUP IS SOLID

The statewide coordinator of Ross Perot's campaign in Missouri said Wednesday the organization is strong, and allegations last week that she assumed her job in a power play are untrue.

Sandy McClure of Springfield, who had been the 7th Congressional District coordinator of Perot's effort in Missouri, took over as state coordinator on May 1. She replaced Kevin Laughlin of St. Louis, who had been the first state coordinator.

McClure said Laughlin joined with other congressional district coordinators in approving her as the new state coordinator. But late last week Laughlin was charging that McClure was making a power grab within the Perot organization.

"Everything I do is by a vote of all the congressional district coordinators," said McClure. "That is what is so absurd about them screaming power play."

Laughlin and Ed Dyck, who both served as district coordinators in St. Louis, were asked to resign their positions on May 19, McClure said, because of concerns about a side business they were involved with selling Perot-for-President merchandise.

"We had to formally ask for their resignation on May 19," said McClure, adding that an effort was made for the two to "save face."

Late last week McClure announced that the first set of petitions that had been collected to put Perot on the ballot as an independent candidate in Missouri had been withdrawn, and that a new effort would begin.

McClure said the new petition drive was necessary because there was some concern about the loyalty of several of the 11 presidential electors who are on the first petition. The new petitions have only four of the electors that were on the first ones.

Among those removed from the list were Dyck and Laughlin. McClure said some of those removed as electors were people the district coordinators were not familiar with.

McClure said the first petitions, which have more than 50,000 signatures - over twice the number necessary to have Perot on the ballot in Missouri - are being stored in bank vaults.

New petitions began circulating Friday, and can be identified by a large "2" stamped on the back.

McClure said that both Laughlin and Dyck have been complaining about being forced out, but their actions are only helping the overall Perot cause in Missouri.

She also pointed out that the Perot Petition Committee based in Dallas has identified her as the official point of contact for the Perot effort in Missouri.

"At our offices all over the state, people are just pouring in to sign new petitions," said McClure. "I think Missourians can read between the lines. There is no power in my position.

"The more Kevin Laughlin screams about throwing away 100,000 signatures the madder people get and start coming in the door."

McClure, who sells real estate in the Springfield area, said this is her first effort in politics. She described the events leading up to seeking the resignations of Laughlin and Dyck and the decision to start a new petition effort as "a gut-wrenching decision."

The Perot effort got started in Missouri in March, and McClure said she anticipates no problems getting petitions signed again.

"We want to show that Missouri did it not only once, but twice," she declared.

"It is going to be easier to do the second time because of the organization that we have in place."

McClure said petition drives are under way in all nine of the state's congressional districts. On June 13-14, a special push will be initiated with a "Do It Again Day."

McClure met with the congressional district coordinators Tuesday in Columbia, and said she feels the overall organization is solid.

The first check of petitions around the state to determine how many signatures have been gathered will be on June 26, the day before Perot's birthday, McClure explained.

If enough signatures have been gathered by then, they can end the drive and begin focusing on the fall campaign.

Petitions need to be turned into the secretary of state's office by Aug. 3 in order for Perot to be on the ballot in Missouri in the November general election.