JACKSON, Mo. -- Mike Hurst's name will be on Gov. Roger Wilson's desk this week after a majority of the Cape Girardeau County Democratic Committee selected him as their nominee for county coroner Tuesday evening.
Hurst, who has worked for the Southeast Missouri State University Department of Public Safety for the past four years, had lost his bid to become the county's public administrator in November.
Hurst was one of eight candidates who explained his interest in the job following the death of 12-year coroner John Carpenter last week.
Hurst's honesty about running for public administrator rather than coroner in November's elections impressed committee member Lindell Randolph.
"When he said he ran for public administrator for the money, it was the most honest reply any of them gave," said Randolph, of Cape Girardeau.
The public administrator's position pays approximately $42,000 a year, while the coroner earns about $18,000.
When Hurst spoke to the 38-member committee, he underscored his combination of medical and law enforcement experience, and the same concern for people that he highlighted in his previous political campaign.
Hurst previously worked for an ambulance service. For 16 years, he worked for the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department. He served as jail administrator for the county for 10 years.
Three of the eight men who spoke had run for coroner as Republicans in the past year, and pathologist Dr. Paul Cordes told the committee he was a Republican and would likely remain a Republican.
Democratic Committee Chairman Tom Neumeyer said although the choice for coroner was political, he did not want to shut out any qualified, interested candidates.
One of the main factors in choosing Hurst was future electability, Neumeyer said.
Hurst's name will now be presented to the governor for appointment. Neumeyer expects a decision by Wilson before the end of the year.
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