One-term incumbents challenged in Bollinger

The question facing Bollinger County voters this November is a relatively simple one. It's basically a referendum on the way the county has been run over the past four years.

Four of the five races for county office pit one-term Republican incumbents against Democratic challengers.

First District commissioner:Democratic challenger Gary Beal said the primary issue in his race is the need for better communication between the commission and the county road crews. Beal said better communication would lead to better teamwork on county projects, thus improving efficiency.

Incumbent Larry P. Vangennip is standing by his efficiency record.

"We've had some problems in the past, but we've worked them out," Vangennip said. "I think we're doing well with what we have."

He went on to say, "Whoever wins will move ahead with the budget we have and weigh each decision against the financial well-being of the county."

Second District commissioner: Challenger Ralph Macke echoed his party-mate's concerns about the efficiency with which the county is being run, especially with regard to road workers.

"The commission is not getting the quality of roads that they're paying for," Macke said. "The workers are often pushed too hard to cover too many miles, they don't have time to do the best job. I'll work closer with the road crews and uphold better lines of communication with them. I'll always be available to them."

Current Second District Commissioner and Republican candidate Wayne Whitener points to the work the commission has accomplished over the past few years, including construction of the Castor River Bridge at Gipsy, preliminary work on a Cricket Creek bridge and renovation of the county courthouse. He said it's important that the county keep its current commission in place to see through the plans for future projects -- such as chatting and expanding county roads.

Sheriff

Democratic candidate Andy Wiesner said accessibility is the big issue in the race for county sheriff. The former Pennsylvania lawman said that having a sheriff who hears out everyone's problems is key. Wiesner said the current department can be hard to reach in emergencies. He's also concerned with the lack of visible patrols to deter criminals.

Wiesner wants to put more patrols on the streets and to streamline policy and procedure in dealing with calls.

Republican incumbent Terry Wiseman said Wiesner's concerns about accessibility are unfounded.

"My home phone number's in the book," Wiseman said. "I've always maintained an open-door policy to listen to people's problems and try to fix them."

As for additional patrols, Wiseman said the money to do so is simply not there.

Coroner

In the race for county coroner, both candidates agreed that there are improvements that could probably be made to the office, and both express a desire to implement them.

Incumbent Charles Hutchings said that he wants to bring in two additional unpaid deputy coroners to assist in the job. He said he's also trying to work out a plan that would set up people in different parts of the county with some basic equipment and training so that they would be able to perform the coroner's duties in case he was detained by a tornado or another disaster.

Democratic challenger Fred Ritter said it is important that the county coroner's office stay within its means and within county budget. He said that although Bollinger County is a great community, it isn't like the CBS television show "CSI," and it's important not to implement change for its own sake and run up the budget.

Public administrator

The one Bollinger County race that doesn't fit the incumbent/challenger mold is that for public administrator. That's because this year Winford Brown will be retiring after more than 25 years in that office. However, both candidates point to experience outside the position that they believe would serve them well in office.

Republican candidate Larry Welker said he's worked in the county since he graduated high school in 1960. He said that history of working with and servicing the people of Bollinger county will allow him to do a good job.

Democratic candidate Michael Lutes points to a particular experience, dealing with his dad's affairs before he died. He said he's seen the people in need of the administrator who are so often pushed to the back burner by the medical community. He said that will allow him to relate to the people he hopes to serve.

North County Fire District

The lone local measure on the Bollinger County ballot is a question on the possible creation of North Bollinger County Fire Protection District. If passed, the measure would combine the territories of the Patton and Scopus Fire and Rescue Associations -- together covering over a third of the county -- and create a 28 cent fire tax per each $100 of the assessed value of real and personal property in that district.

Bill Vandeven, fire chief of Patton Fire and Rescue said that the tax would remedy some severe funding problems that are facing the two associations. Vandeven said that less than 50 percent of the dues solicited in his area are actually collected. This often leaves each of the organizations with fluctuating annual budgets that have been as low as $16,000.

Vandeven said that creating this district will provide them with a steady tax base from which they could build more stations and buy new equipment that would not only better serve the public, but also provide people with a break on their home insurance.

trehagen@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137

Candidate profiles

Public Administrator

Name: Larry Welker

Age: 62

Family: Wife, Jane.

Party: Republican

Occupation: Insurance sales

Name: Michael Lutes

Age: 57

Family: Wife, Monica

Party: Democrat

Occupation: Co-managing Sunset Floral Shop

Coroner

Name: Charles Hutchings

Age: 51

Family: Wife, Marian; daughter, Madeline; son, Paul

Party: Republican

Occupation: Full-time photographer, funeral director, Bollinger County coroner

Name: Fred Ritter

Age: 59

Family: Wife, Deloris

Party: Democrat

Occupation: Minister at First Baptist Church in Marble Hill