Baer in as Perryville mayor; Hunt elected chief

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- The "interim" tag is coming off Perryville police chief Direk Hunt's title, but he will be serving under a new mayor when he takes office.

Challenger Ken Baer unseated incumbent Mayor Debbie Gahan with 63 percent of the vote Tuesday night, while Hunt won the race for city marshal with 1,101 votes to Joe Martin's 471, giving him 69 percent of the vote.

Twenty-nine people cast write-in ballots for city marshal. It was not clear who was written in, but a third candidate, Brad Pitts, had filed for the position.

Pitts was disqualified after City Clerk Tracy Prost discovered he had an overdue tax bill at the conclusion of the filing period.

Perryville voters elect a marshal to serve as police chief. The Board of Aldermen appointed Hunt to serve as interim chief last April after former chief Keith Tarrillion resigned amid allegations of professional misconduct.

Meanwhile, incumbent Curt Buerck won a three-way race for Ward 2 alderman, bringing in 40 percent of the vote. Challenger Shannon Tarrillion, who is Keith Tarrillion's wife, received 30 percent of the vote, just behind fellow challenger Randy J. Leible's 39 percent.

Baer was not immediately available for comment Tuesday night, but in a recent candidate questionnaire, he mentioned residential housing and an updated capital improvement plan as key issues he would like to address as mayor.

"The biggest economic challenge facing Perryville is availability of residential housing," he wrote. "We need more housing of all types so as to attract more people to live and work here. Our city government should extend infrastructure utilities into areas of potential residential development."

In a statement emailed to the Southeast Missourian on Tuesday evening, Gahan extended congratulations to Baer and expressed gratitude to her supporters.

"In local politics, the stage is small, very personal and meaningful," she wrote. "It's hard to put yourself out on that stage, but if you have a passion for public service, then you face the challenge. I'm happy that I did, and proud of the many things we accomplished during the six years while I served as mayor. ... Now it's Ken Baer's time on the stage."

Hunt could not be reached for comment Tuesday, but in his candidate questionnaire, he listed upgrading the department's technology as one of his goals.

He said the department already has begun installing computers in its patrol vehicles, which allows officers to spend more time in their vehicles and less time at the office.

"Just the presence of a patrol vehicle lowers crime rates and also changes driving behaviors in regards to complaints received from residents," Hunt wrote.

epriddy@semissourian.com

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Perryville, MO