CHARLES P. HUTSON FILES FOR CIRCUIT CLERK

JACKSON -- Cape Girardeau County Circuit Clerk Charles P. Hutson filed Tuesday for re-election. A Democrat, the Jackson resident was first elected in 1974.

"I enjoy the job of circuit clerk and enjoy working with the citizens of Cape County," said Hutson.

He explained that the responsibilities of his office are divided between courthouses in Cape Girardeau and Jackson. The Cape Girardeau office handles civil, domestic relations, juvenile and child support cases and the Jackson office handles criminal felony cases.

Although the caseload increases each year, Hutson pointed out that the State Courts Administrator in Jefferson City has noted that the 32nd Circuit of Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and Perry counties leads the state in disposition of cases.

"Since I have been in office, we have placed the child support on computer, installed a criminal computer network system with the associate circuit court, and installed a network computer system in the civil office at Cape Girardeau. In addition, a civil index system has been approved and we now have jury selection on computer by using drivers licenses," said Hutson. "We are continually upgrading the office equipment."

As a member of the Circuit Clerk and Recorder Association of Missouri, Hutson attends regular training seminars to keep up with new laws that are of concern to his office.

Hutson is a 1964 graduate of Jackson High School and a 1968 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, where he majored in agriculture and minored in business administration. Before his election as circuit clerk, Hutson taught school at Scott County Central in Morley, served two years in the U.S. Army, and then sold real estate.

In 1990, he was selected to Who's Who in Law Enforcement and chosen as Legal Secretary "Boss of the Year."

He is a member and past commander of Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158 in Jackson, the American Legion Honor Guard, committee for Boy Scout Troop 311, a member of the Order of the Arrow, a member of the Whitewater Masonic Lodge, a member and past president of Capaha Scottish Rite Club in Cape, and a 32nd Degree Mason.

Hutson is also a member of: the Jackson Heritage Association, Jackson Benchwarmers, Cape County Coon Hunters, and Ducks Unlimited; he has been a volunteer with the United Way and American Cancer Society. He is also a member and Sunday School teacher of the Burfordville Baptist Church.

Hutson is married to the former Linda Schlamer. They have two sons: Chris, 19, a sophomore at Southeast Missouri State, and Craig, an eighth grader at R.O. Hawkins Junior High.