EIGHT CANDIDATES SEEK WESTERN DISTRICT SEAT

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Incumbent Michael E. Yamnitz insists that he has been taking Perry County residents down the right roads for development over his eight years as Western District county commissioner. But four other Republicans and three Democrats will try to convince voters differently before primary elections Aug. 8.

Eight commissioner candidates will be running in two primary elections in the county's Western District.

In the Democratic primary, Jason Lee Austin, Merlin J. Christisen and Patrick Heaps will face each other. The other five candidates are Republicans.

In 1996, only Republicans ran for commissioner, said Randy Taylor, county clerk.

Yamnitz, 39, has served three terms as a commissioner. The additional term came from a 1996 expansion of terms in office from two to four years.

He has been manager of MFA Oil Co. in Perry County for 10 years. Yamnitz also operates a farm and lives in Perryville.

Yamnitz said the county's roads have generally improved while he has been a commissioner.

Equipment and staffing for the county's road and bridge department have both increased during his eight years in public office, Yamnitz said. New mowers for cutting back brush along roadsides, a dump truck and equipment for the county's quarry are some of the purchases Yamnitz noted.

A plan for putting either hard surfaces or oil and chip coverings on county roads has been implemented recently.

"We've really stuck to a program," Yamnitz said.

If Yamnitz is elected to a third term, his priorities are to enhance brush cutting and spraying, continue with regular bridge and low-water-crossing replacements and improve conditions for county employees.

"The most important thing is to keep employees satisfied and pay scales competitive," Yamnitz said.

Eldon "Sonny" Kaufmann, 59, ran for commissioner four years ago and finished second by 150 votes, he said.

Kaufmann, who lives in Perryville, has been an area representative and salesman for Moorman's Feed Co. for 25 years.

Since his business takes him all over the county's rural roads, Kaufmann believes he has heard what residents want. "People in rural Perry County need to be able to get in touch with their commissioner," he said.

Kaufmann said he would either retire from the feed business or work part-time to make himself accessible to his constituents.

Besides answering concerns about roads and bridges, Kaufmann sees needs to improve fire protection, speed up development of a county recycling center and consider the possibility of county planning and zoning.

Prince Hudson, 49, would like to use his management experience with defense contractors to improve the county.

Hudson, who owns Carl's Muffler Shop and Auto Sales and S&P Crane Service, ran for Perryville Board of Aldermen in 1974. This was his only venture into politics, he said.

Hudson, of Perryville, grew up in Perry County before becoming a quality control manager for Rockwell International and LTV, the latter a defense contractor based in Texas. He participated in projects involving the B-1 bomber and multiple launch rocket systems for these companies, he said.

Hudson returned to the county in 1993.

As a manager, he said he worked with million-dollar budgets and several hundred employees.

"Some friends asked me to run," Hudson said. "I thought with my management background I might be able to help out."

Although he said the county has been run well over the years, he believes he can make it more efficient.

Patrick Heaps, 49, has worked for the county road and bridge department for three years as a heavy equipment operator. This has given him a unique view into what the roads need, he said.

Heaps, of Perryville, worked for American National Can in St. Louis as an industrial truck operator for 30 years before retiring. Heaps lived in Perryville during that time.

He has continued working because he enjoys heavy equipment and felt he was really too young to retire.

But Heaps would quit his job with the county if elected.

"There's a lot of times when people need to be able to talk to a commissioner," he said.

Some items that Heaps would work on as a commissioner would be hiring more road and bridge employees, spreading more gravel on the roads, and increasing employee salaries. Heaps said he would need to examine the county's spending more closely before describing a plan of action on these matters.

Danny Valleroy, 42, had thought about becoming a commissioner several years ago but didn't think he had the time for the job. Now he believes he does.

Valleroy, of Perryville, has owned Valleroy's Garage for 24 years.

He believes residents need greater access to their commissioners. "When people have a complaint, I want them to know that they can get in touch with me," he said.

Valleroy's father, Carl, served as a Perryville alderman several years ago. The younger Valleroy said it was interesting watching his father and seeing what could be achieved in public service.

Valleroy believes commissioners should increase the oil and chip program on county roads to keep dust down and act more quickly on residents' complaints. He said he wants to work with Presiding Commissioner Tom Sutterer on these issues.

Merlin Christisen, 61, of Perryville, is a retired auto worker. He left General Motors Corp. nine years ago after a 34-year career as a blacksmith and general industrial maintenance worker at plants in St. Louis and Wentzville, Mo.

Originally from Perry County, Christisen moved back from St. Louis 11 years ago, he said.

Although he has never run for political office, Christisen has campaigned for mayoral candidates in St. Louis, he said.

Along with promoting more accessibility to commissioners, Christisen would like to improve the roads. "They are in a shambles," he said. "They are not well maintained."

Christisen also promotes the idea of a county sales tax as one way to raise more money while trying to lessen the property tax burden.

Speeding up the development of a recycling center would also get trash off the roads more quickly, he said.

Two candidates, Wayne M. Terbrak of Perryville and Jason Lee Austin of St. Mary, Mo., could not be reached.

The candidates:

For Perry County Eastern District commissioner

Charles A. Franke, 61, of Uniontown

Dennis E. Lohmann, 55, of Perryville

Edwin Stueve Jr. of Frohna

Gary A. Lauck, 47, of Perryville

Scott "Scottie" G. Buerck of Perryville

For Perry County Western District commissioner

Eldon "Sonny" Kaufmann, 59, of Perryville

Wayne M. Terbrak of Perryville

Michael E. Yamnitz, 39, of Perryville

Prince Hudson, 49, of Perryville

Jason Lee Austin of St. Mary

Patrick Heaps, 49, of Perryville

Danny Valleroy, 42, of Perryville

Merlin J. Christisen, 61, of Perryville