Finch successful in acquiring signatures to get on November ballot

Insurance consultant Rock Finch's independent challenge to incumbent Cape Girardeau County Commissioner Jay Purcell moved forward this week when he filed nominating petitions with the Cape Girardeau County clerk's office.

Elections supervisor Joey Keyes said Finch had turned in 331 valid signatures from registered voters. Finch needed 318. Finch said he turned in about 100 more signatures today and will submit additional signatures by the July 28 deadline.

Finch's challenge to Purcell began after the incumbent Republican, first elected in 2004, revealed he had been taping commission meetings and conversations with other commissioners. The revelations led to a lawsuit by Purcell alleging violations of the Open Meetings and Records Law, commonly known as the Sunshine Law, and the appointment of a special prosecutor to determine if Purcell should be prosecuted for secretly taping a closed meeting.

The decision to run, Finch said, was spurred by a change in his business, not Purcell's actions. Finch purchased two ING Bank brokerages in St. Louis and merged his business, Finch Marbanks Insurance Consultants, with a Springfield, Mo., firm. "I can do something publicly for a change and I want to get in and serve and bring my knowledge and my character and integrity as an offering," he said.

Purcell said he was not surprised that Finch was able to gather the required signatures. "I expected this and I look forward to explaining to the citizens why I should be re-elected as their county commissioner," Purcell said.

For updates, check back at semissourian.com or read Saturday's Southeast Missourian.