COUNTY CANDIDATES SQUARE OFF; SIX VIE FOR CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY POSTS

With less than two weeks to go before Election Day, voters will decide three contested races on the Cape Girardeau County ballot.

Cape Girardeau County Commissioner in District 2, sheriff and public administrator are all contested races.

*Cape Girardeau County Commission

The winner of the County Commission Decond District race will be responsible for planning, maintenance and upkeep of the County parks and buildings. Due to a change in the county's status to a first class county rating, this position will change from a two-year term to a four-year term on Jan. 1.

Incumbent Joe Gambill, a Republican, and Democrate Max Stovall are competing for the office.

Gambill has served two terms in office. He says his experience in the office gives him an edge over his opponent.

"I'm in. I've been there," Gambill says of his four years in office. "I have a feel for the county now."

Gambill, 69, credits his ability to manage county assets to his experience as a plant manager, working at the Marquette Plant (now Lone Star) for 10 years and for Biokyowa Inc. for 11 years.

"Basically it's doing the same thing I've done for the past 40 years as a plant manager -- managing people, money and assets," Gambill said.

As commissioner, the prime areas he would address are improvements in the parks, possible expansion of the jail facilities and expansion or renovation of the juvenile facilities.

Gambill would also like to establish a planning and zoning commission, in particular, to deal with the proposed recreational lake project to be situated between Bollinger and Cape Girardeau counties.

"If we have the lake, I'd like to be sure that landowners and everybody comes out with a win-win situation," Gambill says.

Stovall ran for the office two years ago and lost by just 29 votes.

"I thought I'd like to win one," he says of the upcoming election for county commissioner, District 2.

Stovall spent 46 years of his 72 years as a major local contractor. For four years he was superintendent of Public Works on the City Council, in charge of streets, sewage and inspections. He was also on the Greater Cape Girardeau Development Corporation (sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce) for eight years, developing the industrial area near the airport where 15 major industries were put in and 1500 jobs created.

Serving on several committees for the betterment of Cape Girardeau, Stovall spent 18 years as a Southeast Missouri Hospital Trustee, four years on the Board of Missouri Veteran's Home and was president of Senior Citizens, responsible for establishing the senior tax fund.

"I think with my background, education and everything, I would be an asset to the county," he says.

Stovall sees the most pressing issues in Cape as providing new industry and more jobs to the area, improving roads, and replacing old bridges that are narrow and dilapidated. He would also like to see the extra acreage at the County Park developed.

*Cape Girardeau County Sheriff

Incumbent John D. Jordan, a Republican, was elected in a special election after Norman Copeland retired, serving the remaining two years of the four-year term.

Jordan, 35, a law enforcement officer for more than 16 years, has been active in a number of organizations in the community: working with senior citizens on the SALT Council (Seniors and Lawmen Together), creating the first Triad Chapter in the state of Missouri, and working on safety projects like fingerprinting for children.

"I'm very much community-oriented," Jordan says. "I try to be accessible to the media and the public and to have an open-door policy."

He would like to maintain the high degree of respect for law enforcement officers in Cape Girardeau County that they have had for the past several years. Jordan claims that the key to being effective in the department is to be pro-active and if there is a problem, to take corrective action immediately.

"One of the things we've got to look at is we're one of the fastest-growing areas in Missouri. We're going to have to deal with more people coming into the area," he says.

Jordan said more growth means more complaints and more incidents to handle with an already overcrowded jail situation.

Benny (Ben) R. Hinton, who has a degree in criminal justice, is the Democrat running for sheriff. Now retired, he was on the police force for four years and with the Missouri State Highway Patrol for 29 years.

Hinton, 58, left the highway patrol in 1994, but would like to get back into police work while he's still young enough and healthy enough. He cites basic law enforcement as the main objective of the position, along with patrolling county roads and providing security for the citizens. He says he would continue to address the drug and gang issues and proceed with the drug programs currently in progress.

Formerly a member of the Marine Corps, Hinton says if elected, he would treat everybody equal. He last ran for office two years ago, losing to Jordan.

*Cape Girardeau County Public Administrator

The position of public administrator involves arranging for residential and care programs for persons declared indigent or mentally incompetent by the Circuit Court.

Incumbent John Ferguson, a Republican, has held the office for eight years. He says this is a job that most people couldn't do. He said his phone rings all night long and he deals with crises almost every day.

The post entails petitioning courts and working with family members and concerned citizens. Although he's on call all the time, Ferguson likes his job.

"I enjoy what I'm doing. After eight years, I feel I can continue to be public administrator for another term," he says.

Ferguson, 62, says it's important to have a good rapport with all the agencies and administrators he works with, which might include community counselling or drug and alcohol rehab programs.

An ordained Methodist Minister, Ferguson has taken several courses in continuing education to try and stay abreast of the issues as they relate to health care, Medicaid, Social Security, and Veteran's benefits.

He has also been active on legislative and education committees of the state, trying to gain more recognition for public administrators.

Wanda Conrad, a Democrat, is running for office for the first time. Her goal is to fill clients' needs and make them her number one priority.

"I feel that this position requires a caring, compassionate person to see to the needs of these special people," Conrad says. "I feel that I am the woman for the job."

Conrad, who refused to give her age, sees this position as requiring the utmost in integrity, honesty, and fairness. She realizes the need for a sense of fiduciary responsibility and trusteeship over the assets and guardianship of those less fortunate individuals.

Her community contributions have included past president of the Optimist Girls' Softball League, a member of Vision 2000 and a member of the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri. She has also served on the VFW Ladies Auxiliary and the Eagles Ladies Auxiliary.

Conrad, who with her husband own Conrad's Body Shop, would make sure that things get followed up on, that things get done.

"I don't see myself as a politician," she says. "I'm a candidate for a special job."

Several offices remain uncontested as incumbents seek new terms. Republican Larry Bock is running for County Commissioner in District 1. Jerry L. Reynolds, a Democrat, is running for Assessor. Republican Bill J. Reynolds is running for Treasurer and John E. Carpenter, also a Republican is running for Coroner. No candidate filed for the position of Surveyor.

MEET THE CANDIDATES

2ND DISTRICT COUNTY COMMISSIONER

Joe Gambill

69

Republican

Incumbent

Retired plant manager Biokyowa, Marquette Plant.

Max Stovall

72

Democrat

Lost 2 years ago to Gambill.

Retired local contractor.

SHERIFF

John Jordan

35

Republican

Incumbent. Elected 2 years ago in a special election to fill an unexpired term.

Benny Hinton

58

Democrat

Retired from Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Lost 2 years ago to Jordan.

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR

John Ferguson

62

Republican

Indumbent. Has served 8 years in the job.

Ordained Methodist minister

Wanda Conrad

Democrat

First-time candidate.

She and her husband own Conrad Auto Body.