GOP committee nominates Sheriff Dickerson to run in special election

Cape Girardeau County Republican Party�s central committee has nominated interim Sheriff Ruth Ann Dickerson as its candidate for a November special election to fill out the unexpired term of sheriff.

Dickerson took over as Cape Girardeau County sheriff Aug. 13, becoming the first woman to serve in that position in the 218-year history of the department.

The county commission appointed Dickerson as interim sheriff after John Jordan formally tendered his resignation the same day.

�I can�t think of a person who knows the office of sheriff more,� Jordan said.

Jordan recently announced he would resign as he expects to be confirmed soon by the U.S. Senate to a federal marshal post.

Dickerson has worked for the sheriff�s department for 35 years. As captain of business operations for the past 23 years, Dickerson has been second in command at the sheriff�s department.

GOP committee members selected Dickerson at a meeting Sunday after interviewing her and fellow potential candidate Dave Diveley.

Diveley, a retired federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent from Cape Girardeau, challenged Jordan in a heated primary race for sheriff in August 2016. Jordan won that race handily, rolling up big vote margins in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and rural areas of the county.

Drew Juden, Missouri�s public safety director who is stepping down at the end of the month, had been rumored to be interested in the position. GOP committee chairman Scott R. Clark would not confirm or deny the rumor. But Clark said Juden, who has a residence in Cape Girardeau County, was not at the meeting and his name was not put forth as a candidate.

Clark said in a news release emailed Monday that Dickerson, with her years of experience, �will bring continuity to the office.�

Cape Girardeau County Clerk Kara Clark Summers said the Democratic and Libertarian parties also could nominate candidates to run for the position if they choose.

Democratic Party chairman Jonathan Kessler said his party�s central committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the county administration building in Jackson. Kessler said his party would �entertain anyone seeking the position.� As of Monday afternoon, no Democrat had expressed interest publicly in running for sheriff, he said.

Libertarian Party officials said they have no plans to nominate a candidate.

Independent candidates may be nominated by filing petitions with the county clerk�s office, Summers said. A petition for an independent candidate must be signed by at least 648 registered, Cape Girardeau County voters, she said.

Party candidates must file with the clerk�s office by 5 p.m. Sept. 4 in order to be on the special-election ballot, she said.

The county commission last week set the special election for Nov. 6, the same date as the general election.

Summers said Monday no one has submitted a petition to run as an independent candidate. The �preferred deadline� for submission of a petition is at 5 p.m. Aug. 28, but Summers said in a legal notice �efforts will be made to accommodate the filing of independent candidate petitions� by the Sept. 4 deadline.

Candidates for sheriff must be residents of Cape Girardeau County for at least a year before filing, have a valid peace officer�s license and not be convicted of a felony, according to the legal notice.

The winner of the special election will take office immediately and serve the remainder of the term that ends Dec. 31, 2020, county officials said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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