Former Perry County Commissioner seeks to retake seat in Tuesday election

In the Perry County Commission race, Republican candidate Tim M. Brewer is vying against Democrat Patrick J. Heaps for District 1 Commissioner.

Heaps is no stranger to Perry County politics.

He served as District 1 Commissioner from 2000 to 2004, and as vice president of the Perry County Democratic Committee.

For three and a half years, Heaps worked for the county's road and bridge department. He has worked as the maintenance superintendent for the Lake Perry community.

Heaps cited tax revenue loss combined with the economic struggles gripping the nation as the most important issues faced by Perry County.

"I know firsthand what it takes to maintain a balanced budget, as I have previously worked closely with the Perry County Commission and officeholders in the past," Heaps said in response to a questionnaire provided by the Southeast Missourian.

Heaps also said he would support another sales tax proposal, two of which have failed now at the polls, to support county law enforcement. He stressed the importance of having good wages for sheriff's deputies, who currently start at just less than $21,000 a year.

His opponent, Brewer, would also support another sales tax proposal, but thinks the spending should be clearly outlined in the wording of the proposition, he said.

He also thinks the funding for the sheriff's department should be a stand-alone initiative.

Brewer, who won the Republican nod, defeating John Edwards 1030 to 621 in the August primary election, has served on the board of Perry County Memorial Hospital but never held a political office before.

Brewer owns Brewer Monument Inc. and Brewer Graphics Inc. and says the leadership skills he's garnered as a small-business owner will be an asset to Perry County in getting through the current economic downturn.

"I think the county will be able to get through this with a county commission who is dedicated to working together to deal head on with the issues," Brewer said.

Brewer said because he's never held a political office before, he thinks he is able to approach the position with fresh ideas and free of bias toward a certain way of thinking.

In the sheriff's race, Republican Gary Schaaf, sheriff for the past 16 years, faces challenger Democrat Ted Christisen.

Schaaf says he hopes to continue the same work he's been doing during his decade and half as sheriff. His focus has been crime reduction, particularly concerning burglary and drug-related crimes.

Schaaf, who has been on the executive board of directors of the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force since its inception, said his department continues to work closely with both the task force and federal authorities on drug investigations.

"The big kicker is with the economy, everybody's budget is going to take a hit," Schaaf said.

Christisen, a resident of Perryville, Mo., did not return repeated calls seeking comment over the past several months.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

388-3635

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