HINTON MAKES ANOTHER RUN FOR SHERIFF

Benny Hinton says he's qualified to be sheriff and is interested in helping the citizens of Cape Girardeau County by providing them with a better sheriff.

"I have a lot to offer," Hinton, a Democrat, said at a fund-raiser Saturday at the Elks Lake. "I have the education, training and experience to do the job well."

Hinton is challenging Republican incumbent John Jordan.

After serving three years in the U.S. Marine Corps, Hinton returned to Cape Girardeau where he served as a police officer from 1961 to 1965.

He then worked for the U.S. Highway Patrol in Poplar Bluff for 29 years. He retired from there in 1994.

"He's a very honest man," said Hinton's wife, Nelda, who is vice chairperson of the Cape Girardeau County Democratic Central Committee. "He's professional and he has a lot of experience. He's a fair, kind, easy-going, very slow-to-anger person."

Local attorney Al Lowes has known Hinton since he was a police officer in Cape Girardeau.

"I think he's a superb man and a fine candidate for sheriff," Lowes said.

Rick Althaus, the Democratic candidate for the 27th district state senate seat, said that he also believes that Hinton would make a good sheriff.

"He's a man of very high integrity," Althaus said. "He's personally concerned with the good of the community."

If elected, Hinton says he will take a look at the overall sheriff's office and determine if he can add or upgrade anything.

The campaign is going well, Hinton said, and he's come across many people interested in seeing him become the next sheriff.

"It seems to picking up speed," said Hinton. "Lots of people are rallying around me."

Hinton was born and raised in Cape Girardeau and then Central High School here. He later attained a degree in criminal justice from Southeast Missouri State University.

His father, Dewey Hinton, was fire chief and later fire commissioner of Cape Girardeau.

He ran for Sheriff Norman's unexpired term in 1992 against Jordan and was defeated by fewer than 1,800 votes.