Cape Girardeau County prosecutor discusses county issues with League of Women Voters

After a swift but detailed review of a his prosecuting attorney responsibilities for Cape Girardeau County, Morley Swingle discussed converting the county to a charter form of government and explained why Auditor David Ludwig's presence is "galling."

He spoke during a Thursday evening appearance for the League of Women Voters of Southeast Missouri, opening the evening with a review of several high-profile criminal cases.

He explained that his office employs "all together, about 20 people," including six lawyers, six secretaries, a criminal investigator, bad-check administrators and two child-support administrators.

Fewer than a dozen people attended the meeting, making it the smallest turnout in recent memory, according to League co-president Mary Ellen Sharp.

She asked Swingle for his take on converting the county to a charter form of government, especially in light of the undecided Sunshine Law suit between 2nd District Commissioner Jay Purcell and the commission. The League of Women Voters will produce a report on a county charter, as the group did before Cape Girardeau converted to that form of government.

Swingle said a county administrator "would be more effective than three people arguing and squabbling," referring to infighting among the county's three commissioners and the lawsuit.

A part-time board of representatives would cost less, he said, and "You'd be getting people who really want to be public servants."

A county executive could cost as much as $100,000 a year, expect to have an administrative assistant and "the next thing you know, that person would have a big suite of offices," he said.

The combined salary of the three county commissioners is more than $180,000. The commissioners have a full-time and a part-time assistant.

A chartered county would need its own attorney, he said. Swingle signed a 1996 contract to act as the commission's counsel, civil work which adds up to "1 percent of my time and 99 percent of my headaches," he said.

Nelda Steffen asked Swingle to explain why Ludwig wasn't fired, as a person in private industry would be after twice admitting to behavior that has been characterized as "low-level sexual harassment" by Swingle and another attorney hired by the county.

"They have bulletproofed elected officials," Swingle said, calling the situation "a nightmare" and "galling" but saying the two deputy auditors "are real professional and good at their jobs, and everything seems to be going OK. We'll wait for the next bomb to drop."

Asked about the relative success of the Network Against Sexual Violence, Swingle praised the agency, saying the medical specialists are well trained and service is "worth every nickel you put into it."

The League of Women Voters has produced a local voters guide, available at a few limited spots around town, such as banks and the public libraries. The group will host a candidate forum from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Career & Technology Center, 1080 S. Silver Springs Road.

pmcnichol@semissourian.com

388-3646

Were you there?

Have a comment?

Log on to semissourian.com/today