Challenger hopes to block presiding commissioner's bid

By RUDI KELLER

Southeast Missourian

Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones is making one more lap around the political circuit as he seeks a fourth term as presiding commissioner.

Opposing Jones is Teamsters Local 600 business agent Victor Farrow, who hasn't raised any money, put out many yard signs or appeared at many campaign functions.

Jones, a Republican, won election to his current job in 1994. Within a few months, he was confronted with issues he hadn't anticipated -- rising water on the Mississippi River just two years after a record flood and mass resignations from the Cape Girardeau School Board.

He was surprised when the decision of who to appoint to the board fell to the commissioners.

"It shut down county government for two weeks," he said.

Modest funding

For his re-election bid, Jones has raised a modest amount of money, placed his signs and will talk about what he views as team accomplishments over 12 years, but he said he's not trying to swamp his opponent.

Farrow's challenge is the first time he's faced Democratic opposition, Jones said.

"I am very sincere and serious, and I want them to know I want their vote and support, but I haven't been trying to overwhelm people," he said.

The accomplishments, for which Jones is careful to spread credit to others, include building a new jail and archive center, reaching an agreement on the East Main Street interchange on Interstate 55 and luring business, such as new production lines at the Procter & Gamble plant and retailers such as Sears Grand and Kohl's.

"So many people think just paving roads and keeping roads maintained is our job," Jones said.

The biggest fiasco of his tenure, Jones readily admits, was the attempt to introduce planning and zoning in the county. The measure failed by a wide margin, including within Jackson and Cape Girardeau where zoning rules are already in place.

"I was so naive, I thought the day of the election that this would pass," he said.

The county passed a new sales tax in August on promises to accelerate paving of gravel roads and expand law enforcement. Getting that program well underway by the end of the coming term will be a good way to cap his tenure, Jones said.

As he has repeatedly, Jones promised this is his last campaign. But he said he's not going to stop pushing.

"I have no intention of being a lame-duck presiding commissioner for four years," he said.

In an interview after filing, Farrow called for more open county government. He especially questioned the maneuvering that led to the Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority purchasing Kelley Transportation Inc. County Commissioner Jay Purcell spearheaded negotiations between the transit agency and Kelley Transportation, revealing the talks only when there was an agreement in principle.

Since that time, Farrow has kept silent as commissioners worked to pass the controversial sales tax, which succeeded by 131 votes Aug. 8.

Farrow did not return messages seeking comment.

County Democratic Party chairwoman Brenda Woemmel would not comment on the campaign, or lack thereof, being conducted by Farrow.

Presenting voters with a choice in important races is a goal of the party, which has been at a disadvantage locally for years, she said.

"I think it is very important that the Democratic Party fields candidate and that we field them at all levels," she said.

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126

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Name: Gerald Jones

Party: Republican

Office sought: Presiding commissioner

Age: 66

Occupation: President, Jackson Publishing Co.

Personal: Married, three grown children, six grandchildren.

Political experience: 12 years as presiding commissioner.

Education: B.S. from Southeast Missouri State University, M.E. from University of Missouri-Columbia.

***

Name: Victor Farrow

Party: Democrat

Office sought: Presiding commissioner

Age: 66

Occupation: Business agent for Teamsters Local 600

Democratic challenger Victor Farrow did not provide additional biographical information or a photograph.