JACKSON -- When Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep announced last year he would not run again, Gerald Jones began planning to run for the office.

"I am interested in the future of Cape County and have always been interested in running for a commission seat," said Jones. "I live here, and will continue to live here. I have a business here and want to see it stay a solid, prosperous county. I think I can help maintain that."

Jones says if he is elected he will provide Cape County with "conservative fiscal management, along with planned growth and development."

"There are a lot of things that will be quite critical to Cape County in the very new future, such as solid-waste management. Goodness knows what is going to happen there or what might be dictated from EPA or DNR. We have got to be very careful that that doesn't become an expensive burden on our budget."

Jones is running in the Republican primary Tuesday against Mike Kasten and Howard Tooke. Since no Democrat filed, the winner will be elected in November and take office Jan. 1.

He has been endorsed by Huckstep and two other incumbent Republican officeholders: Associate Commissioner E.C. Younghouse and Sheriff Norman Copeland.

"If I do get elected I've got five months to go to school, and I will go to school," he said. "I will spend a lot of time with each department and each officeholder to see what their function is in the role of county government and what they do, how they do it, and what their budget is," said Jones.

Jones, 54, is a native of Cape County. He is publisher and owner of the Cash-Book Journal newspaper in Jackson and president of Associated Inventory Specialists Inc.

Jones has been active in a variety of professional, business and civic organizations, which he believes has helped prepare him for presiding commissioner.

"Although I have never held a government position, I have a proven track record of leadership ability," said Jones. "I have been involved in various groups and organizations over a 30-year period."

Jones is past president of the Missouri Jaycees and the Missouri Rehabilitation Counselors Association. He is a board member of the Missouri Small Business Development Council.

Jones said he is pleased with the way Cape County has been run in recent years and would anticipate no major changes.

To keep the county in sound financial condition, Jones said it is important the commission make sure each officeholder is aware of their budget and stays within it.

"You just have to be alert to special needs, which you have to serve. Some things are mandated and some are not, but you can't be throwing money around," said Jones.

Jones said he would strive to keep the capital trust account growing. He said there is no reason to cap it at a certain level.

"I would hope that funding would continue to grow through interest and additional money we could put in it," he said. "It is an emergency fund, and we never know when it will be needed. That account is a rainy day fund, not a road-paving fund as some people think it is.

"I know of some real road-and-bridge needs in the county and would be agreeable to work on those projects. But we don't want to obligate ourselves to maintain county roads in a way that will break us."

When Cape County begins its move to 1st-class status over the next few years, Jones said he would do whatever is necessary to see that the change is done properly and that all administrative functions required of him are carried out.

Since citizens petitioned the county commission two years ago for a vote on county zoning, and then defeated an ordinance that repealed county planning, Jones said he would not lead any effort to bring it back.

"At this point, if it comes back in, it will go in the way it went out, with initiative petition," said Jones.

Jones said he expects some day people will want the issue brought up again. But meanwhile, Jones said development in the county will have to be regulated only by state laws and guidelines.

Jones said he believes a recreational lake in Cape and Bollinger counties is a dead issue.

"It is not a viable issue now," he said. "If there was a lot of interest I would look at it. From an economic and recreational standpoint, it would be great for Cape County, but there would have to be some awfully strong interest for me to spend another nickel on it, and that includes interest of people who would be affected by it."

Jones is a former teacher. He has a bachelor of science degree in education from Southeast Missouri State University and a master's in education from the University of Missouri.

Jones is past president of the Southeast Missouri Press Association, Jackson Development Corp., Jackson Merchants Association, and University of Missouri Extension Council. He served on the University of Missouri President's Advisory Council. He is a member of First Baptist Church in Jackson, and served in the Army and National Guard for nine years.

He also serves as a high-school football referee and a high-school and college track official. In 1992 he received the University of Missouri's Distinguished Service Award. He has been honored by Missouri and national high school athletic associations; received the 4-H Meritorious Service Award; and was named one of five Outstanding Young Men of Missouri in 1970.

Jones and his wife, Clarice, have three children: Gerry, Gina and Sarah.

Presiding Commissioner

District: All of Cape Girardeau County.

Duties: Serves as chief budget officer for county government, is chief administrator of the county, and along with two associate commissioners makes up the county's administrative body.

Term: Four years.

Salary: $25,000.

Candidates: Republicans Gerald Jones, Mike Kasten and Howard Tooke. No Democrats filed. Incumbent Gene E. Huckstep, a Republican, is retiring after 16 years in office.