BLUMENBERG WINS MISSISSIPPI COUNTY COMMISSION POST

EAST PRAIRIE -- Mississippi County voters re-elected presiding commissioner Jim Blumenberg to a second term on Tuesday.

Blumenberg of East Prairie received 3,050 votes to defeat Republican challenger and Charleston resident Donald A. Raithel, who received 1,154 votes.

"I'm feeling pretty good and I'm glad it's over," Blumenberg said.

Blumenberg, 52, lost his position briefly after challenger Steve Ledbetter won the August primary by five votes. Blumenberg successfully challenged the election, however, after irregularities were found in the balloting.

After a special election in September, Blumenberg again became a contender for presiding commissioner.

Blumenberg said controversy within the county has created some hard feelings among residents. Specifically, feelings have been divided surrounding voting irregularities in recent elections and attempts to rebuild the county courthouse, which was destroyed by fire in February.

However, he said, residents can look forward to a rosier outlook.

Blumenberg said, "We've had a pretty hard year, but I think the county's got a lot of possibilities and I think it will all be over in a few years."

In a separate issue, East Prairie residents voted to discontinue a sales tax of 0.5 percent to finance street improvements. The measure failed 457 to 354. A simple majority was necessary for passage.

The tax was first approved in 1989 and has been used for all local road maintenance expenses with the exception of total reconstruction for curbs and gutters. The tax, which expires next October, is expected to generate about $80,000 this year. About $600,000 has been collected since the tax became effective.