FORMER TREASURER WINS ADMINISTRATOR SEAT

BENTON, Mo. -- H.J. "Cotton" Holyfield, a former county treasurer, was elected to serve as the Scott County Administrator Tuesday.

Holyfield, the first candidate to file for the office, earned 2,707 votes. Opponents Sharon Merideth earned 1,435 votes, Wayne Friend 1,596 votes and Glendella May 2,118 votes.

All candidates ran as Democrats, so Holyfield will face no opposition in the November general election.

The current officeholder, Sonny Alcorn, decided not to run for re-election after three terms in office. During Alcorn's tenure, the clients for the county jumped from 15 to 65, with little increase in operating budget. The part-time job pays $11,500.

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.

Holyfield, of Sikeston, Mo., said his 16-year tenure in the treasurer's office gave him the proper experience for the job.

As treasurer, he had already handled the county's funds and would be doing that same work with clients served by the public administrator's office, Holyfield said.

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

Other candidates had said they were qualified for the job because of their experiences. Wayne Friend works at Blanched Funeral Home and has learned compassion and patience, he said. Sharon Merideth is a registered nurse and felt qualified for the job because of her experience in health care. Glendella May worked for several years as a probate assistant with the Limbaugh law firm in Cape Girardeau.