BONNEY CHALLENGES ROBERT FOR RECORDER OF DEEDS

Janet Robert wants voters of Cape Girardeau County to know she has done a good job during her 17 years as recorder of deeds, and has the experience to work with other county officials to keep the county in sound condition.

Darlene Bonney wants voters to know it is time for a change in the office and that she has the qualifications to do the job.

"I feel that during my years of banking and working in savings and loans, I have acquired the knowledge and ability to make the recorder's office more efficient, to make sure deadlines are met, and to keep turnaround times to a minimum," Bonney said.

But Robert is quick to point out that the best experience comes from doing the job every day.

"There is nowhere else you can gain the experience you need to run the office, except by working in the office," Robert said. "I have worked here tirelessly for 17 years. I feel like we give friendly, helpful service to the taxpayers."

Robert added that she cooperates with officeholders of both parties for the good of all citizens and stays within her budget.

"My experience, knowledge and leadership will be necessary to help take Cape County through the process of moving toward a first-class county," she noted.

If elected, Bonney stressed her first allegiance would be to the taxpayers. She became interested in running for office two years ago when she helped in a campaign.

Before filing, Bonney said she talked with some people who use the office and found that they wanted a quicker turnaround time on filing documents and more friendly service to customers.

Bonney, 56, said one reason she filed is to ensure there would be a candidate running from both parties.

"I feel like the Republican Party needed a representative in the recorder of deeds campaign, and other races as well," she said.

Robert said she has earned another four-year term because of her performance and points out that recorders from other counties and other states visit her office to see the procedures used and how new technology is applied.

Each year, about 18,000 documents are recorded by the office, with each filing requiring several steps.

Both candidates pledge to use the latest available technology to improve service.

A key focus of Robert's re-election campaign are her ongoing efforts to modernize the office to efficiently handle a growing workload.

"During my time here we have gone from using an inkwell, where everything was written by hand with permanent ink to the latest technology using digital scanning and imaging," Robert said.

Eventually, documents dating back to 1989 when the office first went on computer will be scanned in. The new system enables documents to be placed in the system faster. Banks and surveyors will eventually be able to access the documents from their offices and have copies sent by fax.

Document filings have more than doubled during Robert's time in office and this year more than $300,000 in fees will be collected.

Bonney promised to continue efforts to use the latest technology and work to find new approaches to doing the job.

"The idea is to increase efficiency, cut costs and reduce space requirements," Bonney said.

In August, Bonney resigned her position as a customer-service representative in Jackson with Boatmen's Bank to devote full time to her campaign.

"I'm running on my energy and ability to get things done," she said.

Recorder of Deeds

Candidates: Democrat Janet Robert, 49, of Cape Girardeau has served as recorder since 1977. Republican Darlene Bonney, 56, of Jackson has 25 years of experience working at banks and savings and loans.

Duties: Record documents pertaining to real estate, issue marriage licenses, and file military discharge records, Uniform Commercial Code documents, and state and federal tax liens. The office records about 18,000 documents annually.

Term: Four years.

Salary: $35,000.

PROFILES:

Janet Robert

A lifetime Cape Girardeau County resident. She is active in the Recorder's Association of Missouri, serves as a trustee for the Crime Reduction Fund of the county, is a lieutenant governor for East Missouri Optimists and a charter member of the Excelsior Optimist Club.

Robert attended Southeast Missouri State University. She is married to Norman Robert Jr., and they have three children.

Darlene Bonney

Raised on a farm near Pocahontas in north Cape Girardeau County. Her banking experience includes working as branch manager and loan officer at Heritage and First Federal savings and loans. She also worked for Exchange Bank. She is active in St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, was a member of the Cape Girardeau Business and Professional Women, and has been active in various community fund-raising events.

She and her husband, Don, have four grown children and three granddaughters.