DIEBOLD IS ELECTED COLLECTOR; RODNEY MILLER EASILY RE-ELECTED COUNTY CLERK

Cape Girardeau County voters elected a new tax collector, Republican Diane Diebold, in the most hotly contested county race this year. And voters retained longtime county clerk, Democrat Rodney Miller, in Tuesday's election.

Diebold beat Democratic opponent Judy Beussink 10,976 to 8,270 to fill the open collector's position. Collector Harold Kuehle is retiring.

Incumbent Miller beat Libertarian opponent Greg Tlapek 13,807 to 2,692.

Vote totals do not include 15 handcounted ballots from Oriole, which won't be available until today.

Diebold said: "I really, truly believe it was all the had work by so many people that made a different. I couldn't have done this by myself."

A committee has been campaigning with Diebold since the August primary. "We've been in the various communities and working on getting out the vote," she said. "All that hard work paid off."

Diebold campaigned on her experience and education. She has worked in accounting for the past 26 years and has degrees in accounting and computer science.

She is controller for Double D Tractor Parts Inc. in Sikeston, a position she has held since 1996. For 23 years prior, she was an accountant with the Drury Co. in Cape Girardeau.

Beussink also campaigned on her experience, 33 years working for Cape Girardeau County in the county clerk's office.

"This weekend, everywhere I went, people mentioned that we had been working hard. I really think that made the difference. And it was nice that people noticed," Diebold said. "I really want to thank all the people who voted."

On Monday she returns to her full-time job, where she will finish some projects under way with the business. She officially takes office March 1.

Miller spent election night supervising returns, as he has since 1979. One responsibility of the county clerk is conducting elections.

"I'm happy to win and appreciate the support of the voters," Miller said. "I really haven't had much time to think about it."

Today, election work continues for Miller as he travels to polling places to pick up equipment and supplies.

Miller said voter turnout in Cape Girardeau was within the expected numbers. About 20,000 voters cast ballots. The county has 45,000 registered voters.

"That's less than 50 percent," he said. "But we expect between 17,000 and 25,000 for an election like this. This is kind of in-between. It was a good turnout."

County incumbents elected without opposition:

-- Gerald Jones, Republican, presiding county commissioner.

-- Janet Robert, Democrat, recorder.

-- H. Weldon Macke, Republican, auditor.

-- H. Morley Swingle, Republican, prosecuting attorney.

-- Pete Statler, Democrat, associate circuit judge, Division III.

-- Gary Kamp, Republican, associate circuit judge, Division IV.

You can find Cape Girardeau County's election results online at www.showme.net/CapeCounty/