Canvassing the county

Jay Purcell won't be able to do a darn thing about the war in Iraq. Concerned about national security? Jim Bowers isn't your guy.

But Purcell, Bowers and eight other local office seekers instead are fighting for positions that will affect Cape Girardeau County residents as much as anyone named Kerry or Bush.

The county commissioners will decide how to divide local sales tax dollars, how much will go toward youth programs like 4-H or toward crime-fighting equipment for the sheriff's department.

The coroner will investigate certain deaths. The public administrator will help take care of children and disabled people when no one else is left to take care of them. The treasurer will keep track of how local tax dollars are invested.

On Nov. 2, county residents will decide who are the best men and women to make these local decisions. At 7 p.m. Monday, the candidates will participate in a forum at Glenn Auditorium sponsored by the League of Women Voters.

In all, seven positions will be filled. After several heated primaries -- including a total of 20 candidates for the two commissioner spots -- five races are being contested in the general election: District 1 and 2 commissioners, public administrator, treasurer and coroner. Incumbent Sheriff John Jordan and Assessor Jerry Reynolds are running unopposed.

Cape Girardeau is known as a mostly Republican county. Some argue that local officeholders shouldn't have to declare a party, saying decisions at the local level aren't partisan issues. Regardless, local Democrats face an uphill climb in this county where eight of the 11 local officeholders are Republican.

The two positions that grabbed the spotlight in the primaries were the two commission seats. In District 2, which includes all of Cape Girardeau, Purcell barely edged out Dan Niswonger and several other candidates didn't fall far behind.

In the other race, Bock, the incumbent, won fairly easily over eight other Republican candidates.

This time around, Purcell, a Cape Girardeau city councilman and businessman, faces Democrat James Bowers, a retired schoolteacher.

Bowers said he's received quite a bit of support from Republicans as well as Democrats. He has sponsored bipartisan fund raisers.

"I feel good about it," he said. "All I've got to go on is what other people tell me, and it sounds like it's going good."

In the primary, Purcell put forth perhaps the most aggressive campaign. It appears he plans to continue that approach.

"I don't want to give away any strategies," Purcell said, "but we're not taking anyone for granted."

'I feel more comfortable'

In the District 1 race, Bock faces Democrat Fred Wilkinson, who is taking on Bock for the second time.

The last time Wilkinson ran, he ran as a Republican, thinking he might have a better chance at winning. But, he said, he's a Democrat at heart.

"I feel more comfortable, more secure running as a Democrat," he said. "But I've got a lot of Republicans supporting me. I really have been encouraged by the voters. I think there is a need for change in leadership."

Bock said he took about a month off after the August election and started hitting the roads again. He said he has an advantage as incumbent because he's already established a base of supporters.

"And we've got things we've accomplished in the county," he said. "You never have enough accomplishments as far as what you'd like to get done because there is only so much money the county has. But you go as far as you can with the money you have."

Another interesting race is for public administrator. Republican Phyllis Schwab is facing the first black candidate to win a county primary. Deborah McBride defeated Charlie Harrison by a wide margin in August.

"It's been very, very busy," McBride said. "We've been doing a wallpaper of the county with fliers, giving people information about me. The feedback I'm getting, the help I'm getting, I couldn't have asked for it, couldn't have paid for it. It's more than what I expected. I'm trying to get as many people out to the polls as I can."

Schwab did not return telephone messages left at the public administrator's office Thursday and Friday.

Incumbent Mike Hurst and Republican John Clifton are vying for the coroner position.

Hurst said he has proven he can do the job and has improved the office since he was appointed to the position by Gov. Roger Wilson in 2001 after the past coroner died.

The coroner's position is given a part-time salary at roughly $20,000. Hurst said holding down two jobs has made campaigning difficult.

"I hope people understand that there have been a lot of functions I couldn't do because I was taking care of the job I was appointed to do," he said.

'Don't look at names'

Clifton said incumbents have certain political advantages. But in this case, he said, since Hurst was appointed and not elected, the incumbent may not hold the same advantage.

"My whole thought process in this campaign has been qualifications," he said. "Don't look at names or political affiliations. Look at qualifications."

In the treasurer race, Roger Hudson is campaigning against Len Barreca of Jackson.

Hudson surprised some with his primary win over Dean Sawyer. Hudson got a lot of support from the city of Cape Girardeau.

"We're going to be advertising in the paper and on the radio," Hudson said. "And of course we've been making it to the chicken and dumpling and sausage dinners. We're just gaining weight. We're doing a little less door-to-door this time, but we'll go out into the county more.

"It's a lot of work and it kind of engulfs you and your whole family for a long period of time, but I have a greater appreciation for politicians and what they go through. If you live through it, it makes you a stronger person."

Barreca did not return two telephone messages left at his home Thursday and Friday.

bmiller@semissourian.com

243-6635