BOLLINGER COUNTY REFLECTS ON CONTROVERSY; PANEL'S PROSECUTOR PICK MIFFS HOPKINS

MARBLE HILL -- Longtime Bollinger County Associate Circuit Judge Bill Hopkins has come to accept a decision by voters Nov. 8 to make someone else judge.

By an 84-vote margin, Republican Scott Thomsen was elected to replace Hopkins after 20 years on the bench. Hopkins reasoned that a combination of anti-incumbent sentiment, a Republican year, low turnout, attractive opponent and a record of decisions on the bench that upset some people led to his defeat.

"When you are in political office, you have to realize that you can get beat," Hopkins said.

But a decision Hopkins still can't accept, or understand, is one made by the county Democratic Central Committee Nov. 21 to recommend someone else to fill a vacancy for prosecuting attorney.

Hopkins was stunned when the seven-member group returned from behind closed doors to announce they were recommending to Gov. Mel Carnahan that Cape Girardeau attorney Scott Reynolds be appointed.

The committee's vote is only a recommendation, and the governor is free to appoint whomever he wants. Hopkins and his supporters are hoping to persuade Carnahan to appoint him. Dozens of letters have been sent, and two packages filled with several hundred signatures on petitions have already been sent. More are being gathered. Letters are also being sent to the governor's office urging him not to appoint Hopkins.

The prosecutor's job is a hot topic among citizens in Marble Hill, the county seat. Opinions range from support for Hopkins to annoyance that the judge sought another public job after losing his current one.

Junior Long of Marble Hill, who says he is an independent voter, praised the Democratic committee for its courage to buck the establishment. "I am proud of the Democratic committee. They had guts to do what they did and stood up to a lot of pressure." If Hopkins wanted to be prosecutor, "he should have run for it."

Long said he thinks it would be good for someone to be in the prosecutor's office with no ties to Bollinger County. "We need someone who will treat all people the same way," said Long.

But Charles Hawn said the committee let the county down. "If the committee is going to serve Bollinger County, which they were elected to do, they need to use Bollinger County people if they are qualified. I think it is a sad deal they gave Bill Hopkins."

Hawn said even if some committee members didn't like Hopkins, they should have recommended him because he was a resident. "The guy they recommended is a great guy, except that he does not live in Bollinger County," said Hawn. He predicted the governor would pick Hopkins anyway.

The committee interviewed Hopkins, Reynolds and Eric Taylor of St. Joseph. The audience was packed with current and past Democratic county officeholders and candidates who attended to show their support for Hopkins. Many of them made statements on Hopkins' behalf.

After interviews and discussion, the committee held a closed meeting to deliberate. Committee Chairman Murry Dunn said everyone agreed not to reveal details of their discussion, final vote totals or how members had voted. All Dunn would say is that the vote wasn't unanimous.

Democrat Paul Hahn, who will end his second term as prosecutor Dec. 31, didn't seek re-election and will join a law firm in Jackson. Because all the other lawyers living in the county were either running for a judgeship or serving as a judge, there was no one to file for prosecutor.

Members of the committee have held firm on their vow of silence, something that has frustrated both Hopkins and his wife, Sheila, who want answers.

"I was totally shocked by the decision," said Hopkins, standing in his one-room office shared with two clerks at the courthouse. "No one will tell me the rationale for the decision. I can't get them to tell me. I have no idea why they don't like me or didn't support me.

Sharon Hopkins is furious and has confronted every member of the central committee seeking an explanation. She said the committee didn't verify Reynolds' qualifications, checked no references and failed to discuss any concerns it had with her husband. She believes some members used the vote as an opportunity to carry out personal vendettas.

"What is so startling, is we had no inkling of a problem until that night. Personal feelings have to be put aside when you have an elected position of responsibility, which those people had. I think some made this a very personal thing."

Several residents of Bollinger County say one reason for the vote against Hopkins was because they felt as prosecutor he would be too friendly with Republican Sheriff Dan Mesey. Mesey has been a controversial figure in Bollinger County. He has a strong core of devoted supporters as well as staunch opponents.

During the fall campaign, Mesey put a sign in his yard for Hopkins, which irritated some Democrats and others who do not like Mesey. Mrs. Hopkins said several members mentioned the sign in Mesey's yard at the meeting. "I don't think it was the single factor, but it was a factor in their decision."

Harold (Rover) Vannoy, a member of the committee, said he doesn't recall any discussion about Mesey during the closed meeting of the central committee, but he said it was probably a concern of some members. Other committee members in the closed meeting were Mr. and Mrs. Joe Stewart, Sam Marshal, Jean Yount and Myra Kay Dickerson.

Both central committee chairman Dunn and Vannoy say they were surprised Hopkins didn't get the recommendation. Vannoy said he went into the meeting with an open mind but expecting Hopkins to win. As the committee began discussing the appointment, other candidates were looked at.

Committee members have been contacted by Hopkins supporters because of the decision, but Vannoy said since the decision has been made he has stayed out of it. He operates a convience store and gas station in Marble Hill and is the most accessible committee member for citizens.

"I'm an easy target here," said Vannoy, standing behind a counter pointing to a line of cars waiting to buy gas. "I've been looked at a lot, and would say I have been smiled at more than frowned at."

AT A GLANCE

Bill Hopkins, 48. Native of Bollinger County. Has served 20 years as associate circuit judge in Bollinger County. On Nov. 8 lost re-election bid by 84 votes to Republican Scott Thomsen. Graduate of University of Missouri-Columbia, received law degree from Denver University. Practiced law three years before becoming judge, Jan. 1, 1975.

Scott Reynolds, 32. Native of Cape Girardeau. Has practiced law in Cape for 1 1/2 years. Also worked in St. Louis for Bryan Cave law firm, and was assistant St. Louis County prosecutor for two years. During law school was clerk for Cape County Prosecutor Morley Swingle. Graduated from Southeast Missouri State in 1986, earned law degree from University of Missouri-Columbia in 1990.