INCUMBENT FACES THIRD PARTY CHALLENGER IN RACE FOR CAPE COUNTY CLERK

The race for Cape Girardeau County Clerk pits a veteran incumbent against a third party newcomer.

Incumbent Rodney Miller, a Democrat, seeks re-election to the post he has held since 1979.

He is opposed by Greg Tlapek, a Libertarian, who says he is seeking the job as a way to further the goals of his political party.

Miller points to his record as county clerk for the past 20 years as reason to seek another term.

"This has been my job and my life," Miller said.

The responsibilities are varied and include voter registration, conducting elections, and administering the everyday operation of county government.

During Miller's tenure, the county has built a jail and is about to start an addition to the facility. A new administrative office building was constructed.

"We have never had a question about fair and honest elections," Miller said. "People know the elections are being run right and their vote is going to count."

He has served in leadership roles in both the Missouri Association of Counties and the Missouri Association of County Clerks.

He serves as chairman of a Workers' Compensation insurance pool that has returned $2.5 million to Missouri counties. "That's money that would have been profit for an insurance company," Miller said.

The office employs five deputy clerks, the same as when Miller started.

"It's not a glamour job," Miller said. "But it's a matter of doing your job every day and doing your best. All the while, I keep in mind we are working for the citizens of this county."

Tlapek said he has no complaints with how Miller has done the job. He seeks the position as a way to further the Libertarian movement.

"I have to start small to get what I want," Tlapek said. "What I want is smaller government, less taxes and less regulation. Only by electing Libertarian candidates is this going to happen."

However, he would be capable of doing the job if elected.

"The county clerk's office is a business office. I know business. The county clerk is also the election authority. Politics is my passion," Tlapek said. "My claim to the job is no less legitimate than Mr. Miller's."

Third party candidates, Tlapek said, have a tough time breaking into politics at all levels. "Until we begin electing Libertarians to local or county offices, we have not much hope of electing Libertarians to state or national offices."

Tlapek thinks Democrats and Republicans both operate on a spoils system.

"The whole system is set up to continue ever increasing government, taxes and regulation," he said. "The only way to break that chain is to vote Libertarian or other third parties."

Name: Rodney Miller

Party affiliation: Democrat

Hometown: Millersville

Age: 58

Education: Master of Arts from University of Missouri-Columbia; bachelors degree in education from Southeast Missouri State University.

Job history: Cape Girardeau County Clerk since 1979. Prior to that, Miller was a teacher and coach and worked in sporting good sales.

Previous political offices which would also include when they were elected to their current post in the case of incumbents: Elected Cape Girardeau County Clerk in 1978; took office in 1979.

Family: Married to Jan. They have two sons.

Name: Greg Tlapek

Party affiliation: Libertarian

Hometown: Cape Girardeau

Age: 41

Education: CHS graduate and completed two years of college.

Job history: Tlapek works full time in an unpaid position promoting the Libertarian party. For eight years Tlapek managed a discount brokerage house in Cape Girardeau.

Previous political offices which would also include when they were elected to their current post in the case of incumbents: Tlapek ran unsuccessfully for 8th District congressman in 1996 and 1994.

Family: He is unmarried.