TWO RACES CONTESTED IN MISSISSIPPI COUNTY VOTE

CHARLESTON -- Democrats competing for presiding commissioner and county collector are the only contested races on Mississippi County ballots for the Aug. 4 primary election.

Presiding commissioner Jim Blumenberg and county collector Faye Elliot each have one challenger for their positions on the Democratic ticket. Steve Ledbetter is challenging Blumenberg's four-year run as presiding commissioner. The winner of the contest will face Republican candidate Donald Raithel of Charleston. Linda Sutton is Elliot's lone challenger. The winner of that contest will run unopposed in the November general election.

Ledbetter lives in Bertrand and was a former associate commissioner for six years. He is married and a farmer in the county. Blumenberg has served 22 years in public office, including 10 years as county commissioner and 12 years on the East Prairie Board of Education. He is married and owns Blumenberg's Service Station in East Prairie.

Elliot, a Charleston resident, has served as county collector since 1987. She was also county treasurer for 12 years and a former Charleston city collector and city clerk. She is a widow.

Sutton is married and lives in East Prairie. She has no prior experience as a public officer but has owned several businesses, including the day-care facility she operates.

MISSISSIPPI COUNTY PRIMARY RACES

Name: Faye Elliott

Title: County Collector, incumbent

Age: 57

Party: Democrat

Residence: Charleston

Education: Graduated business school in Cape 1958

Previous Offices Held: County collector since 1986 election. Also served 12 years as county treasurer, Charleston city collector, city clerk.

Job history: Also worked as secretary to city manager for nine years, head bookkeeper for 2 years at Charleston Manor, and bookkeeper for Dr. Gregorio Rodriguez for three years.

Family: Widow

Name: Linda Sutton

Title: Candidate for County Collector

Age: 49

Party: Democrat

Residence: East Prairie

Education: Charleston High School graduate

Various adult computer classes at Sikeston High School

Job history: Currently owns a day care. Former owner of several businesses. Worked many years as a bookkeeper at Reeves Boomland

Previous Offices Held: None

Family: Married with two adult children and one stepchild

Name: Jim Blumenberg

Title: Presiding Commissioner, incumbent

Age: 52

Party: Democrat

Residence: East Prairie

Education: Anniston High School graduate

Job history: Service station owner since 1970. Two years in Army -- Vietnam War veteran.

Previous offices held: Presiding commissioner for three and one-half years. First elected Associated commissioner in 1988 -- served six years. Served 12 years on East Prairie Board of Education

Family: Married with three adult children.

Name: Steve Ledbetter

Party: Democrat

Age: 48 years old

Title: Candidate for presiding commissioner

Education: Attended Southeast Missouri State University

Residence: Bertrand

Job History: Farmer

Previous offices held: Former associate commissioner for six years.

Family: Two adult children