FERGUSON TO SEEK FOURTH TERM AS PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR

John Ferguson, who has served as Cape Girardeau County administrator the past 11 years, will seek his fourth, four-year term in office.

"I've given this a lot of thought," said Ferguson, who earlier indicated that he wouldn't seek re-election. "A number of people encouraged me to file for state representative.

"While I appreciate their enthusiasm, others have reminded me of how the disabled people I serve as guardian and conservator have come to depend on me," he said.

Ferguson is the third Republican candidate to announce his candidacy for the post. Phyllis Schwab of Jackson and Ken Bryan of Cape Girardeau announced their intentions to file last week.

Ferguson, 65, said he was in good health and knows what needs to be done as public administrator.

"I believe that the people in my care will be served best if I completed another term in this office," he said.

Not many people understand what the public administrator does, said Ferguson.

"When someone can't take care of himself and when he has no one else who can take care of him, the court appoints me to look after him, manage his money and account for it all in court," he said.

If the person needs to go to a nursing home, the Public Administrator make the arrangements.

"It is my responsibility to see that the person physically gets moved in," he said.

The administrator has laws, regulations and procedures to understand, said Ferguson.

"Over the years I have worked with people in probate court, Division of Family Services, Social Security office and dozens of nursing homes and residential-care facilities." he said.

What really made up my mind were the calls and letters I have received from some of the nursing home administrators," said Ferguson. "They reminded me that a lot people I help have come to trust me personally because of the relationship we have built up over the years. I couldn't let these people down."

Ferguson and his wife, Shirley, have lived in Cape Girardeau for many years. He is an ordained Congregational Methodist minister and associate pastor at Harmony Congregational Methodist Church near Marble Hill. He is a member of the Cape Girardeau Ministerial Alliance and Community Caring Council and the personnel board of East Missouri Action Agency in Flat River. He also serves as chaplain for American Legion Post 63 and at the district level.

He is a member of the Missouri Public Administrators Association. He serves as chaplain for the association and is on its training commission.