... MISSISSIPPI PRIMARY WILL DECIDE RACE TOO

MISSISSIPPI COUNTY, Mo. -- Both Democratic candidates in Mississippi County's public administrator race are hoping their familiar faces will gain them votes during elections Aug. 8.

No Republicans filed for the post.

But first, they'll have to explain to voters what the public administrator does.

"It's the last position on the ballot," said Pam W. Crawford. "We're the low man on the totem pole, so most folks aren't concerned. But it's an important position if you need it."

Public administrators are assigned by judges to handle the affairs of disabled, incapacitated and deceased persons of any age. The administrator may be appointed guardian to handle legal affairs, conservator to handle financial affairs, or both at the judge's discretion.

"It's the same thing that you would do for your loved ones," said Buddy Marshall, the incumbent who has held the position for 16 years. "Whatever needs to be done, we do it to the best of our ability."

Marshall, a retired insurance agent, is seeking his fifth, four-year term in the county office. He and his wife, Norma Jean, have two adult daughters and four grandchildren.

Marshall said he hopes his 35-year-long career in the insurance business, coupled with his experience as public administrator, will sway voters in his favor.

But he's not resting on experience alone. For the past three months, Marshall has "knocked on most of the doors in this county," put up signs, and otherwise contacted voters throughout the county.

"I've contacted as many people as I possibly can, and I'm going to work up until the seventh of August," he said. "That's when I'm going to quit, and it's just up to the people if I'm re-elected or not."

Crawford is seeking her first public office in the contest. She has been manager of the Flag Stop truck stop in Charleston for 14 years. She and her husband, Tom, have two adult sons and one adult daughter.

Crawford said both she and Marshall come from large families who have lived in the county many years. She hopes family members, friends and associates she's met at her job will select her as the next public administrator.

In addition to those connections, she has been busy circulating flyers, putting up signs, and conducting a door-to-door campaign to drum up support.

"A lot of people know who you look like but they don't know what your name is," said Crawford. "I'm trying to connect who I am with my name."

Both candidates said the public administrator must be a compassionate and caring person who is willing to make themselves available at any time to the people they represent.

Marshall said the job has varied hours and is best held by someone who is not working another job.

"It's true you can do it, but I think you can do a much better job if you don't have anything else to do," he said. "I'm on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When they call, I go."

But Crawford said she doubts her job at Flag Stop would interfere with duties if she was elected. She cites handling the affairs of her mother and other elderly relatives and friends as experience that has prepared her for the job.

"I think that I have dealt with the public all my life and I understand people and problems," she said. "It is a part-time position, and it was just something I had thought about for a couple of years.".