CARPENTER RE-ELECTED CORONER; SCHWAB WINS ADMINISTRATOR RACE

In incumbent John Carpenter and challenger Harold Cobb, Cape Girardeau County voters Tuesday night had to choose between two coroner candidates steeped in experience. Conversely, the race for county administrator pitted political newcomers Phyllis Schwab and Michael Hurst.

In the end, voters gave the nod to the Republicans, Carpenter and Schwab.

Carpenter topped Cobb 19,124-6,482, and Schwab defeated Hurst 16,986-11,840.

Carpenter was elected coroner in 1988 and re-elected in 1992 and 1996.

"I think voters looked at qualifications and decided they wanted to rehire me and not have to spend extra money to hire a new man coming into office," Carpenter said. "Hopefully I have done a good job in the past, and if it isn't broken don't fix it. "

Carpenter, who has been battling cancer, said his health is good.

Cobb, a Democrat who entered the race too late to get into the primary, said he didn't expect to win in heavily Republican Cape Gir-ardeau County.

"They vote straight Republican. I figured if people didn't vote straight I might have a chance."

Schwab, 57, defeated incumbent John Ferguson and Kenneth Bryan in the August Republican primary. She is the co-owner of Schwab Farms and is the wife of state Rep. David Schwab.

Winning felt good, Schwab said, but added, "I feel best of all about the folks that have helped me with this."