COBB, SULLINS MEET IN CORONER DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY

Even though he was defeated for re-election four years ago, Harold Cobb contends he is still the best-qualified candidate for Cape Girardeau County coroner.

Cobb hopes to reclaim the job this year. But before he can run for a new four-year term, Cobb must first win a primary contest against Jim Sullins, who has lived in Cape County the last six years and is retired from the Air Force.

John Carpenter, who defeated Cobb by about 150 votes in 1988, is challenged in the Republican primary by Edward A. Frenzel.

Said Cobb: "I like the job and feel I am experienced. The best qualification I have is 10 years of experience. I thought I did a good job for almost 10 jobs. I feel like I am the most experienced of any of the candidates; the most educated. I would like to have another four years."

Cobb works for the Southeast Missouri State University Department of Public Safety and works part time at Ford and Sons Funeral Home.

Sullins, who works part time for Orv's Barbeque and Sands Pancake House, said, if elected: "One of my principle aims as coroner will be to be a full-time coroner and available when called. The county coroner has a lot of responsibility to the residents of the county he serves. In my opinion, the task is greater than just being able to determine when someone is deceased.

"When there is a death, I will do whatever is necessary to determine the cause."

Both Cobb and Sullins pointed to their backgrounds in law enforcement and the need to be able to investigate deaths properly.

Cobb has a bachelor's degree in general studies and an associate of arts degree in criminal justice from Southeast Missouri State. He also served almost 20 years as a licensed funeral director.

"Having a law enforcement background is good because it is an investigating job, not a medical job," said Cobb. "The coroner hires medical people when he needs them," he said. "It's more law enforcement than medical - 10 times more. You hire the doctor to do the autopsy; you are there to find the truth on how a person died."

Sullins retired from the Air Force in 1972 after 21 years service, including 13 years in law enforcement and security work. He graduated from high school in Bono, Ark., and earned a bachelor's degree from Troy State University in Alabama, majoring in criminal justice and minoring in criminal investigation. He is also a graduate of the Arkansas Law Enforcement Academy.

Sullins worked as a deputy sheriff, city park ranger, city police officer and director of security for a major hospital before coming to Cape County.

"It is sad that the coroner has to be a politician," said Sullins. "The job calls for someone that has expertise in the field of investigation. When something happens, a person determines the cause, and if he has any doubt or reason to believe there may have been foul play, he should have enough expertise in criminal investigation to protect the scene and help see that the culprit responsible is caught."

Cobb said he would "bring a little maturity to the job that John Carpenter doesn't have. Education, experience and maturity are the most important things. You can't worry about having the spotlight shine on you; you just do the job."

Sullins said Democrats need an alternative to Cobb in the primary election.

"The people chose not to keep Harold Cobb as coroner in the last election. The Democrats deserve an alternative to seek and win the coroner's office back," said Sullins.

In March, the County Commission instructed Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle to file a civil court action against Cobb to recover some office furniture and records he used when he served as coroner.

Cobb, who was appointed to the office by former governor Joe Teasdale in 1979 and elected in 1984 and 1988, said everything had been worked out and that there were some records he forgot that he had.

Cobb charged that the Republican prosecutor and Carpenter had political motives in their action.

"It was a big to-do about nothing; just political," said Cobb. "If I had not filed for office, it would never have been brought up. Any citizen who can't see it must be living under a rock."

If elected, Sullins said he would be available on a full-time basis to perform the duties of the $5,000-a-year job.

"If there are questions about the circumstances, I will hold a coroner's inquest," said Sullins. "When there is reason to believe there was foul play, I will notify the proper authorities and coordinate all of my activities with all other agencies until there is a proper conclusion of the case.

"When we lose a loved one it is a sad and traumatic experience. We need a coroner who will treat our loved ones with respect."