DEMOCRATS VIE FOR ASSESSOR'S POST

MISSISSIPPI COUNTY, Mo. -- Mississippi County residents will narrow the field of candidates vying to become assessor from four to two during primary elections Aug. 8.

Incumbent W. R. "Bill" Thompson and challengers Rebecca Boyd Presson and Oliver B. French, will compete in the Democratic primary in August for the position.

The winner will compete for the position against Republican Deanna Carlisle in November.

The winner will take office Sept. 1, 2001, in accordance with state practice. The salary for the position is $36,900.

The county assessor is responsible for finding taxable property, identifying the owner, and establishing assessed valuation of all property in accordance with Missouri law. The assessor does not establish tax rates, issue tax bills, or collect or refund taxes.

About the only similarities in the Democratic candidates' backgrounds is they call Mississippi County home. Each relished their uniqueness and said it would make them the best candidate for the position.

Presson could not be contacted for comment Monday.

Thompson was a farmer before winning his first term in office in 1996. He and his wife, Peggy Ann, have two adult sons.

He cites his position as assessor for four years among his greatest attributes. Besides computerizing the office and "bringing it into the 21st century," he also has been able to save the county and thus, taxpayers a good amount of money by writing grants, using contacts with other assessors to gain special equipment without purchasing it.

Thompson also was able to replace the entire collection of maps his office lost when the county courthouse was destroyed by arson in 1997 for $400, much less than the $250,000 estimate he received if the maps were recreated.

"Everyone said the maps had been reproduced by someone in Indiana, but nobody knew who this gentleman was," Thompson said. "After six or seven months I finally found him, purchased the maps for a meager $400 and brought them back to the county."

Thompson said, "Most politicians will tell you how well they spend your money. I like to tell the people in the county how much of their money I've saved."

French, assistant principal at Charleston, Mo., High School, is divorced and the father of two adult daughters. He has held a variety of jobs, including deputy assessor for Mississippi County from 1981 to 1985.

French said he would have to learn the political side of the job if elected, but he thinks he has a good grasp on other aspects of the position.

"I'm not seeking the assessor's job because I hate what I do," he said. "I just enjoy doing a lot of different things. Should I be elected, I will, when they hire school administrators next February, resign and be a full-time assessor starting Sept. 1, 2001."

Carlisle is the wife, of Bob Carlisle. They have a blended family of six adult children. She has prioritized her life as a Christian, family and "being the best assessor the county has ever had" as her goals in the election.

Carlisle has spent the past 17 years in the insurance business, specifically addressing senior citizens' insurance issues. That experience would be of assistance in working with the county's older residents, who need someone to help them, she said.

"I feel like this would really help me in the assessor's job because I'm very detailed and have established very good relationships with policyholders," she said. "I think the main thing is that we want to be fair, we want to be equitable.".