In Perry County presiding commissioner race, one campaigning on record, the other on tax idea

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- In the Republican primary race for Perry County presiding commissioner, one candidate points to his experience, while the other hopes his new ideas on taxes will persuade voters.

First-term Presiding Commissioner Carl "Topper" Lueckel Jr.. faces challenger Richard "Rick" Schemel in the Aug. 3 primary. The winner will run against Democratic candidate Stanley "Paul" Grantham in the November general election.

In the race for county treasurer, no Democratic candidate has filed, so the primary will decide whether incumbent Veronica "Ronnie" Hershey or challenger Brian Brickhaus will be treasurer.

Lueckel, a retired UPS driver, points to his work with the disabled, children and the elderly during his first term as Perry County presiding commissioner. One of his first tasks was to "turn around" Perry County's sheltered workshop program. At the time, the program was down to about 30 workers who had few projects to work on other than splitting wood for kindling. "It was looking more like a wood yard than a workshop," Lueckel said.

New management was hired for the sheltered workshop, and new contracts were secured for the work from local companies, including Gilster-Mary Lee and TG USA.

Richard Schemel

"We put more people back to work there," Lueckel said.

Today the program has doubled to about 60 workers and 10 staff.

Lueckel also pushed for the approval of a quarter-cent sales tax in Perry County that generates $500,000 annually to help fund programs for teens and seniors. Under his leadership, he said, the county worked with the city of Perryville to create a tax increment financing district to help attract new industry.

His opponent, Schemel, hopes his management skills will convince voters that he is the best choice for Perry County.

"The current management is very bad," Schemel said. "Our county, like a lot of counties, is faced with financial woes."

Carl Leuckel Jr.

In 2005, Schemel said, Perry County had $750,000 in reserves, but at the end of 2009 those reserves were down to $49,000.

"I believe with my management skills and practices I've done over the years while being in business, I can offer some more efficient ways of getting us out of this dilemma."

One of Schemel's proposals is that Perry County sell "Perry County Tax Relief Coupons" to merchants who will give the coupons to customers when making a purchase. The customers will keep the coupons until the end of the year and use them to pay their county property taxes. Schemel said his plan will encourage residents to shop in Perry County instead of going outside the area.

The program, he said, could bring in enough additional revenue to raise employee salaries, which have remained unchanged for the past three years.

Schemel is a retired structural engineer and general contractor.

Brian Brickhaus

In the county treasurer race, Hershey is seeking her sixth term. As treasurer, she worked to refinance the Perry Park Center bonds, saving county taxpayers $600,000 in interest payments, she said.

"Honesty, accuracy and willing to do the best job for our county are the skills I hold," Hershey said.

Brickhaus said helping Perry County achieve a surplus budget would be his goal as treasurer.

"I would work with the clerk's office and the commissioners to look at cutting health insurance costs and trimming expenses across the county," Brickhaus said.

Brickhaus has been an investment representative for the past nine years.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent Address:

321 N. Main St., Perryville MO