HUCKSTEP FIRES BARBS, GIVES UPDATE AT COFFEE

Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep has been a regular speaker at First Friday Coffees presented by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce over the years.

Each time he is invited, the county's chief elected official is asked to update chamber members on the state of Cape County, its financial condition and challenges.

Huckstep always provides worthwhile information about county government: its $6.2 million general revenue budget funded without a property tax; a $1.7 million road and bridge budget; and a $4 million capital/emergency fund he described as "a target of a lot of people with their hand out."

He leaves the audience feeling that the county is indeed financially sound, functioning with modern technology, and with about the same number (140) of employees it has had for more than a decade working with a team of dedicated officeholders who put the taxpayers first.

But the colorful commissioner also has become noted for his sharp barbs and unpredictable commentary in First Friday Coffee appearances.

Several times he has condemned the criminal justice system as a threat to the county's financial reserves, used the event to express his disdain for state and federal bureaucrats, and four years ago used the forum to declare dead a proposed lake in Cape and Bollinger counties.

Huckstep was in true form Friday, chastising the criminal justice system, but with more courtesy than in the past. But Huckstep still warned with crime on the rise and the number of law enforcement officers increasing, there was little doubt the costs of the system would continue to escalate.

Huckstep said he is upset by many of the frivolous lawsuits filed by jail prisoners, who see the financially solvent Cape County government as a good target. Several suits have criticized the food.

"I'd much rather see them come out of jail with their ribs showing than pleasingly plump," said Huckstep.

If he had his way, he quickly added, there would be gallows on the courthouse lawn. "Unfortunately, the courts don't agree with that philosophy," he joked.

Huckstep also criticized his hosts, the Cape Chamber, for declining to take a position on Amendment 7 and said they owed it to business people to take a stand in opposition.

"You are shooting the wrong people if you vote for Amendment 7. If we elected officials don't do our jobs, vote us out, but don't kill the system," said Huckstep. "Frankly, it scares me that people would consider Amendment 7 as a potential solution to taxes in the state of Missouri."

Initially, the impact of Amendment 7 on Cape County would be minimal. But over time, Huckstep said, it would devastate the county.

Responding to a question about the lake, Huckstep said it might have a chance of being revived -- after he leaves office -- if Bollinger County residents want to see it done.

"It will be up to the next commission. We missed the greatest economic potential of all time by not having an election on the lake tax," he said.

Since he is retiring at the end of the year, Huckstep also reflected briefly on the end of his career in public office. He served nine years on the school board in Cape and 16 years as presiding commissioner.

"I never minded the criticism," said Huckstep. "I'll miss it. I truly believe Cape County is in great condition and we are going places."

Chamber members gave Huckstep a standing ovation.