RECORD NUMBERS EYE COUNTY RACES, ISSUES

With a U.S. Senate seat up for grabs along with all five Missouri statewide offices, three presidential candidates eying Missouri as a swing state, eight constitutional amendments and two referendums on the ballot, 1992 has been one of the most intense political years in the state's history.

That intensity does not even reflect the hundreds of countywide races and legislative races around the state, as well as local ballot issues that are a part of Campaign 92.

For the most part, 1992 has been a volatile political year with voters in an angry mood - frustrated by the economic conditions, dissatisfied with incumbents at all levels, and looking for change.

Many parts of the country are expecting large turnouts and voter registration is up in many areas. In Cape Girardeau County there are approximately 36,000 registered voters, which is near a record level.

Probably the most active race in Southeast Missouri this fall has been for the 27th district state Senate seat now held by Sen. John Dennis, who is retiring after 16 years. The newly drawn district has New Madrid County replaced by Madison and Perry Counties, shifting the balance of the district from a Democratic edge to Republican.

Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau is carrying the GOP banner this year, offering himself as a distinct contrast to Democrat Betty Hearnes, wife of former Missouri Gov. Warren Hearnes and a five term member of the Missouri House.

Kinder is attacking lifelong, career politicians for failing the people and contends that Hearnes is a classic example of politicians who have failed citizens at all levels of government. Hearnes is countering by running on her record in the House and experience in the General Assembly. She portrays Kinder as someone with a lot of talk, but no record of action to back up his talk.

Some polls have shown the race to be extremely close.

Both Hearnes and Kinder have been waging aggressive campaigns for months and this will be one of the most expensive State Senate races in Missouri history.

Three Southeast Missouri incumbent state representatives are facing challenges this year. In the 155th district of Perry and Ste. Genevieve Counties, five-term Rep. Herb Fallert is challenged by Republican James D. Williams of Minnith. In the 159th district, which includes Chaffee, Oran, Morley and most of Stoddard County, Rep. Marilyn Williams of Dudley faces Republican Terry Ernst of Oran. In the 156th district now served by Rep. Joe Driskill of Poplar Bluff, which includes most of Bollinger County, the five-term Democrat is opposed by Gaylord Harvey of Ripley County.

Another race spanning the counties of Cape Girardeau, Perry and Bollinger is for the remaining four years of a term as 32nd district circuit judge. Republican Bill Syler and Democrat Pete Statler are running for that post, vacated when Steve Limbaugh, Jr. was named to the Supreme Court.

The 8th district congressional race pits six-term Republican Bill Emerson against Democrat Thad Bullock of Cape Girardeau. An independent candidate, Harold Reed of Glen Allen, is running as a write-in.

Candidates in Cape County will also decide five races: two commission seats, treasurer, coroner and public administrator.

In the 1st district, which includes Jackson, the outcounty and Ward 17 in Cape Girardeau, Republican Larry Bock and Democrat George Cox are in a hard fought race. Bock defeated incumbent Leonard Sander in the GOP primary.

In the 2nd district, Republican E.C. Younghouse is challenged by Lanny Smith.

Bill Reynolds, a Republican seeking his fourth term as treasurer, is challenged by Orval Thorne. Republican Coroner John Carpenter is challenged for re-election by Harold Cobb; while incumbent Public Administrator John Ferguson is opposed by Democrat Mitch Herod.

Voters in Cape County will also be deciding whether to continue planning and zoning.

Opponents to a new zoning ordinance circulated petitions to have the issue placed on the ballot, contending that the ordinance is not fair and too restrictive.

But supporters of county zoning, point out that if voters defeated the measure, all planning regulations that have been developed over the last 20 years will suddenly become void leaving the county wide open to uncontrolled development.

Proponents suggest that rather than vote out planning and zoning, citizens concerned with the ordinance should work with the county commission and planning commission to make changes to improve the plan.

In the city of Cape, voters are deciding whether to elect City Council members by wards rather than at-large.