About 46 years ago, with no previous immediate family or personal involvement in politics, I began to study our government and the elective and judicial processes.

As a local Jaycee president and eventually vice president of the Missouri Jaycees, through Jaycee programs I became aware of Americanism and the threat by outside ideologies to our freedoms.

Even though I had an uncle who was a Democratic state senator in Arkansas and an active grandfather in that overwhelmingly Democratic state, neither my father, his associates nor myself and friends had even been politically involved until my Jaycee days.

However, through study, business, sports and other activities I became a natural conservative in principles and actions. By this, I mean I believed strongly in the duties, rights and responsibilities of the individual in one's life goals and achievements.

Milton Friedman's economic principles, and free-to-choose economic politics were early influences on me.

Eventually, I became a supporter of U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater (the conscience of a conservative) and served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in San Francisco in 1964. I also served as a delegate to the 1968 convention where I first met Ronald Reagan.

Later I gained experience as a candidate for Congress in which I was defeated (at the age of 35 and politically naive about campaigning), followed by six years serving in the Missouri Legislature as the state representative from Cape Girardeau. Since then I have acquired some knowledge and insight into the workings of government and the politics that surround candidates.

I have never voted a straight Republican ticket and have had the experience of serving on the Missouri State Reorganization Conference Committee in the 1970s (three Democrats and two Republicans -- myself a freshman legislator) and a conference committee on the state budget (five House members who negotiated a compromise budget with five state senators).

Last year I served with 19 other members statewide to make proposals to reform and improve Missouri state government.

Probably even more enlightening has been my experience in the media industry through which I've become friends of many Missouri elected officials and observed many campaigns, debates and the sometimes inaccurate portrayals by supporters, opponents and, unfortunately sometimes, the media of elected officials or candidates.

I've listed this abbreviated biography to say the following: U.S. Sen. Jim Talent is one of the finest public servants I have ever met.

He has the attributes and qualities that all clamor for, but too few times does one get the opportunity to vote for such.

He's honest, hard-working, bright, a family man with good Christian principles and has shown his ability to work with others to solve or address problems important to our state and country. You've read, heard or seen his issue positions, but I speak of the character of Talent.

Jim is needed in Washington at this time of partisan bickering and demagoguery. Missourians -- you and I -- have the opportunity to vote to see that he is returned to utilize his many years of experience in this critical time in history.

I highly recommend the re-election of Jim Talent to the U.S. Senate.

Gary Rust is chairman of Rust Communications.