DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY SHOULD DECIDE SCOTT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RACE...

BENTON, Mo. -- When Sonny Alcorn decided not to run for re-election as Scott County public administrator, he created a primary race that few people would have predicted.

After all, who really knows what the public administrator does and why would they want the job? Yet four people -- three from Sikeston and one from Scott City -- are vying for the open seat, which is a part-time job that pays $11,500 in Scott County.

The candidates are Wayne Friend, Sharon Merideth and H.J. "Cotton" Holyfield, all of Sikeston, Mo., and Glendella May of Scott City, Mo. All are running as Democrats.

A public administrator is charged with handling the financial affairs of mentally disabled or elderly residents in the county who have no other relatives. The office also handles cases for minors who need conservators and the estates of people without surviving relatives.

Alcorn, who is seeking a term as First District Commissioner, said he didn't want to make the job a career. "It's a lot of responsibility. You're the mother, father, brother and sister for people. You get calls any time."

The job began with just 15 clients but now the public administrator's office handles 65 cases with little increase in its operating budget.

Wayne Friend said the office is certainly not broken and doesn't need fixing. But he knows the office needs "someone that cares."

Friend, who often works with families in difficult situations at his job at Blanchard Funeral Home, said he feels qualified for the job.

"You need to have compassion and patience to work with people that need help," he said. There will be times that "you have to look down in your soul" to make the right decision for a person.

H.J. "Cotton" Holyfield hopes that his experience working 16 years as Scott County treasurer will be enough to help win votes.

As county treasurer handling public funds, Holyfield said he should have the experience necessary for public administrator. "I felt like I was qualified," he said.

He retired two years ago after working 24 years as a commercial pilot. He left county office in 1996.

Part of the reason for the number of candidates -- this race for public administrator has the most of any countywide office in the primary -- is the fact that an incumbent didn't file, Holyfield said.

Holyfield was the first to file and didn't truly think he'd have competition since all the other candidates filed on the last day possible, he said.

Sharon Merideth took her time in making the decision to run for public office, since it was her first election bid.

"Win, lose or draw, I would know more next time" about elections and campaigning after this experience, Merideth said.

She's enjoyed meeting people and going to town picnics and gatherings. "That's what's neat about this part of the country," said the West Virginia native. "Everybody's related and if you ask one person for a vote, you're really asking for 10 votes when you consider their relatives and friends."

Because of her work in the health care profession, Merideth said she feels qualified for the job. Her mother died in April and Merideth helped care for her during her illnesses.

"It just struck me that if she hadn't have me what would have happened," Merideth said. "It's difficult to believe that other people are the same situation with little help. Sometimes we take our families for granted."

Merideth said she anticipates the role of public administrator taking on a greater responsibility should health care decisions become necessary. But as a registered nurse, she's worked with people making those decisions and wants to "help other people a little bit."

Glendella May of Scott City also has experience working with estates in probate and dealing with finances for the elderly. She worked for several years as a probate assistant with the Limbaugh law firm in Cape Girardeau, Mo., after a 10-year career in banking.

During her work with probate cases, May said there were times when the firm handled financial matters as well as worked to oversee the care of a client, acting as guardian.

The job of public administrator is "something that I already know how to do and would be good at," she said.

She wants the office to run more efficiently with its caseloads. "You don't realize there are people in the world that have nobody. It's hard to imagine but it is true."

Yet May sees the job as one of a challenge. Campaigning has introduced her to lots of old acquaintances from her days in Oran, but "it's much harder than I though it would be."

May filed "at the eleventh hour but I felt right about doing it and if the job doesn't work out, life goes on."

THE CANDIDATES

Wayne Friend

Age: 56

Hometown: Sikeston

Party: Democrat

Job history: Has worked in sales for 20 years; currently employed at Blanchard Funeral Home.

Education: Graduate of Sikeston schools; served in U.S. Army.

Personal: Wife, Donna; married 36 years. No children.

H.J. "Cotton" Holyfield

Age: 67

Hometown: Sikeston

Party: Democrat

Job history: Worked as commercial pilot for 24 years. Served as county treasurer for 16 years.

Education: Graduate of Sikeston schools.

Personal: Wife, Mickey, married 50 years. One son and two granddaughters.

Sharon Merideth

Age: 59

Hometown: Sikeston

Party: Democrat

Job history: Registered nurse who has worked in health care field for 25 years.

Education: Earned associate degree from Southeast Missouri State University and earned a bachelor's degree from Maryville University. Certified in infection control and health care safety.

Personal: Husband, Ira, and three sons and two grandchildren.

Glendella May

Age: 53

Hometown: Scott City

Party: Democrat

Job history: Worked in banking for 10 years and as probate assistant in law firms since 1986. Served one term on Scott City Council.

Education: Attended three years at Sikeston schools and graduate of Scott County Central schools.

Personal: Husband, James, married 35 years. Two daughters and a son; three grandchildren.