Cape County candidate bios

COUNTY COMMISSION

DISTRICT 2

James (Jim) Bowers

Age: 75

Family: Wife, Dorothy; daughters, Barbara Campbell and Kim Schulz; two grandsons

Party: Democrat

Occupation: Retired teacher with Cape Girardeau public schools

Religious affiliation: Lynwood Baptist Church

Other affiliations: American Legion, president of SEMO Amateur Radio Club, member and volunteer at Cape Senior Center, Cape Retired Teachers, and Missouri Retired Teachers

Jay Purcell

Age: 36

Family: Wife, Kelly; children, Austin, Miranda, Dayton and Reece

Party: Republican

Occupation: Dana Corp., real estate business and coin wash business

Religious affiliation: Lutheran

Other affiliations: City councilman

COUNTY COMMISSON

DISTRICT 1

Larry Bock

• Age: 66

Family: Wife, Shirley; children Lee Bock, Mark Bock, Jeff Schaefer, Julie Leadbetter, Patti Beussink, Kevin Schaefer, Cindy Heisserer; 14 grandchildren

Party: Republican

Occupation: Farmer and agri-businessman

Religious affiliation: United Church of Christ

Other affiliations: Past president of Farm Bureau, University Extension Council member, Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment chairman, appointed by the United States Secretary of Agriculture to the Farm Service Agency as a state board member, member of the Corn Growers, Soybean Association, National Cattlemen's Association and the NRA

Fred Wilkinson

• Age: 72

Family: Single

Party: Democrat

Occupation: Retired auto body shop owner, farmer

Religious affiliation: Methodist

Other affiliation: Masonic Lodge member, Cape Girardeau Elks Lodge member

CORONER

John Clifton

• Age: 60

Party: Republican

Family: Wife, Deborah, sons, Scott and Chris

Occupation: Private investigator

Religious affiliation: Maple United Methodist

Mike Hurst

• Age: 57

Party: Democrat

Family: Wife, Florence, daughter, Sara

Occupation: Coroner

Religious affiliation: Methodist

Other affiliations: The Missouri Coroners and Medical Examiners Association, Cape Evening Optimist Club, American Legion, Elks Lodge

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR

Deborah McBride

• Age: 47

Party: Democrat

Occupation: Accounts manager for a large mental-health agency

Religious affiliation: Rhema Word International Ministries

Other affiliations: National Federation of Paralegal Associates, African American Task Force Committee, Women in Politics, Heartland Alliance for Minority Participation, Kids Beat, Sisters with a Vision

Phyllis Schwab

• Age: 60

Family: Husband, David

Party: Republican

Occupation: Public administrator

Religious affiliation: St. Paul Lutheran in Jackson

Other affiliations: Missouri Association of Public Administrators

TREASURER

Roger Hudson

• Age: 51

Family: Wife, Elizabeth; children, Seth and Zac

Party: Republican

Occupation: Exporter/trader

Religious affiliation: Catholic

Other affiliations: Elks, Capaha Field Committee, ex-president of Cape Central Booster Club

Len Barreca

• Age: 69

Party: Democrat

Occupation: Retired

Religious affliation: St.Vincent De Paul

Other affiliations: Eagles, Elks, Lozark RV Campground, Experimental Aircraft Association, Southeast Missouri Amateur Radio