HUCKSTEP, HINES CROSS PARTY LINES IN HINTON ENDORSEMENT FOR SHERIFF

JACKSON -- Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep and Interim Sheriff Leonard Hines have crossed party lines to endorse Democrat Benny Hinton for sheriff.

In so doing, the two have lined up opposite former Sheriff Norman Copeland, who is serving as chairman of the campaign committee of Republican candidate John Jordan.

Hines and Huckstep are helping host a fund raiser for Hinton tonight.

Hines, who has worked alongside Jordan in the sheriff's department for nearly eight years, and Huckstep both said they are supporting Hinton because of his experience, character, and maturity.

Huckstep said he committed to Hinton even before the Democratic and Republican Party central committees met in August to pick nominees to run in the Nov. 8 general election.

"Benny came to me and I said I would try to help him if he got the nomination," he said.

Hines said Hinton is a lifelong resident of the county, has a B.S. degree in criminal justice from Southeast Missouri State, a Marine veteran, and has over 30 years experience as a Cape Girardeau police officer and a Missouri Highway Patrolman.

Hines said, "Although I am a Republican, I believe I must rise above party affiliation and support the most qualified and stable person for sheriff."

Copeland agreed soon after Jordan received the nomination to serve as chairman of his committee. But this week, after invitations were sent out and ads were run listing Hines and Huckstep as Hinton supporters, Jordan began running ads that feature a letter of endorsement from Copeland.

In the letter, Copeland said of Jordan: "He is the best candidate for the job, the one I trust most to keep the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department functioning at the high level I left it, the one I trust most to discharge his duties fairly, without regard to politics or other outside factors."

Jordan said Wednesday that he is running on his 15 years of experience, most of it in county law enforcement, and his work as commander of the Major Case Squad since January of 1991.

"Norman's endorsement of me shows what kind of confidence he has in me," said Jordan.

Copeland resigned the sheriff's office Aug. 1 and Hines, his longtime chief deputy, was appointed by the county commission to serve until an election could be held Nov. 8 for the remaining two years of the term. Copeland recommended Hines as interim sheriff.

Copeland and Huckstep have been friends for years. Huckstep convinced Copeland to accept an appointment as sheriff when a vacancy occurred in March of 1986.

During much of Copeland's tenure as sheriff, Jordan served as one of four lieutenants in the department, supervising criminal investigations. Earlier this month, Jordan took a leave of absence from the sheriff's department until Nov. 10.

Jordan stressed he did not want any appearances of impropriety between his campaign activities and work as a deputy.

Hinton, after receiving the Democratic nomination, retired from the highway patrol.