`DRAMATIC CONTRAST': KINDER, HEARNES VIEW ISSUES AT MEETING

ORAN - Republican state senatorial candidate Peter Kinder says there is a "dramatic contrast" between him and Democratic candidate Betty Hearnes.

In remarks last week at the annual meeting of the Scott County Farm Bureau, Kinder offered himself as "an aspiring citizen legislator" running against "a career politician who evidently views herself as a lifetime legislator."

In their first joint appearance of the general election campaign, Hearnes and Kinder each spoke about 30 minutes from prepared remarks. There was no time for rebuttal between the candidates, and the crowd did not offer questions when given time to do so.

Hearnes, the wife of former Gov. Warren Hearnes, served five terms in the Missouri House until leaving in 1988 to run for governor. She suggested to the group it would not be wise to disregard experience.

She asked that "you not allow anyone to convince you that experience is not important. As a life-long public servant, I can assure you that I know the problems of this state, I know the process and I know the people of the 27th Senatorial District.

"I do not live in a world of rhetorical ideology, but rather in a world of reality and common sense. I share the concerns of the common man and woman, and I want to continue to help them with their needs."

Hearnes described herself as "a workhorse, not a showhorse."

In his remarks, Kinder said he supports term limits for legislators "as the only means of blasting an entrenched class of political elites out of office."

He added, "The contrast with my opponent - lovely lady that she is - could hardly be any clearer. Beginning in 1950, some four years before I was born, through and including this year, Mrs. Hearnes has launched 19 campaigns in 42 years ...

"My opponent and her family have been drawing checks from the taxpayers pretty much ever since," continued Kinder. "It may well be there was a time when our entrenched elites rendered a fine public service, but I believe it is fair to say, people who are in their fifth decade living off the taxpayers, personify the class of entrenched political elites I am working hard to replace.

"Now, not content with these decades and honors already bestowed, my opponent wants to add yet another political office to the lengthy list she and the former governor have already held."

Kinder declared that Hearnes' "proudest boast" is her record and experience. The Republican candidate said he hoped Hearnes would accept his challenge for a series of debates in all six counties of the 27th District so that record can be discussed.

Hearnes said she has a strong record on agricultural issues from her 10 years in the House.

"I can assure you that agriculture and its related businesses were always top priorities in the General Assembly," said Hearnes. "We know that agriculture is Missouri's number one industry, and we have provided the leadership necessary to catapult it to the forefront in a General Assembly dominated by urban legislators.

"That responsiveness and ability to swiftly respond must continue, and I come before you tonight saying I will be able to provide the leadership necessary to continue the Bootheel's strong voice in the Missouri Senate."

While serving in the House, Hearnes pointed out that she became the first woman ever to serve on the agriculture committee and was vice chairman of the agri-business committee.

Hearnes said she understands the call for change this year and noted, "I too support the concept of change. Yet we must realize that everyone will have to be willing to sacrifice and participate if we are to bring about positive changes and not just reactionary changes charged by feel-good rhetorical messages.

"For the first time in many years, I believe the people of this state and country really want to hear positive, realistic solutions to the problems facing us. I believe the people of this state and this country also realize that difficult problems cannot be solved with simplistic one-paragraph statements."

Hearnes described some of her efforts as a state representative that she said will enable her to be an effective member of the Missouri Senate.

"I have been involved with legislation during my public service that has touched almost every aspect of our lives," remarked Hearnes.

Kinder discussed his work with the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority as the focal point of his public service and said the port is an example of "my positive vision for the future.

"It is a vision that says let's get this area growing again. Let's attract some industry; let's have communities where our talented young people can find good-paying jobs here or nearby here so they don't have to leave the area to find those futures we all want for them."

Kinder described how he helped lead the campaign that led to passage of a quarter-cent sales tax for four years in March 1985 to generate $7 million for the port authority. The tax passed by a 72 percent margin in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties and ended after four years.

In 1986, Kinder was appointed as a port commissioner and continues to serve in that post.

Kinder said the port authority will be a major asset to agriculture because it provides direct access to foreign markets.

The Republican candidate also discussed his position on several issues that had been of concern to the Farm Bureau, such as the designation of wetlands, the Natural Streams Act and efforts to curb the Hancock Amendment.

"I'm for preserving the integrity of the Hancock Amendment," said Kinder, adding, "even with the Hancock Amendment in place, government has doubled in the last 10 years."

Kinder explained that in his newspaper column as associate publisher of the Southeast Missourian, he wrote columns exposing the Natural Streams Act and wetlands policies and how they challenged property rights.

"I have a paper trail and a record of fighting shoulder to shoulder in the trenches with Farm Bureau," said Kinder.

Hearnes offered some of that "paper trail" against Kinder, by noting in her remarks "someone has written `shrinkage of farmers ... is part of an absolutely healthy trend.'"

Later, Hearnes said the remarks were in a Kinder column. In her speech, she did not mention Kinder as the author of the remarks, though she said the comments were made in the April 12, 1990, issue of the Southeast Missourian.

"I respectfully disagree, because I view it as a tragic situation that those who have worked and lived in the rural communities all their lives are now forced to move to the cities to provide for their families," said Hearnes. "These are families that have known all their lives what hard work is. Families that derive satisfaction from pitching in to help a neighbor when they need an extra hand. Families that not only know their neighbors' names, but have watched their neighbors' sons and daughters grow up through the years.

"These are the values that America was built on. And these are the values that we should always strive to preserve." said Hearnes.

The 27th District Senate seat is open this year with the retirement of Sen. John Dennis.