JONES ELECTED PRESIDING COMMISSIONER

JACKSON -- While others were agonizing over close election returns in the Cape Girardeau County presiding commissioner's race, Gerald Jones was conducting a rules interpretation meeting for high-school football officials in Scott City.

Jones had no idea whether he was winning or losing after a hard-fought campaign with Mike Kasten and Howard Tooke for the Republican nomination of presiding commissioner.

But when he walked into the county administration building in Jackson just after 9 p.m., the first person he saw was his brother, Fred. From his smile, Jones knew he was a winner.

"I really had no idea how the election had gone or even how many votes had been counted until I walked into the door tonight," said Jones. He walked in as the final precinct was counted, giving him a 387-vote victory over Kasten.

Tuesday's election assured Jones the commissionership because no Democrats filed.

In the other county commission races, 1st District Associate Commissioner Larry Bock easily turned back a primary challenge, and in the 2nd District, Max Stovall won the Democratic nomination and Joe Gambill captured the Republican nod by wide margins.

Bock was challenged for the GOP nomination by Fred Wilkinson of Millersville, and came away with a victory of 2,870 to 1,698. Bock will face Democrat Jack Piepenbrok in November.

In the 2nd District, Stovall captured the Democratic nod over Andy Juden Jr. by a margin of 964 to 655. On the Republican ballot, Gambill piled up 1,440 votes. Public Administrator John Ferguson finished second with 1,070 votes and David Patterson collected 818.

Second District commissioner, Republican E.C. Younghouse, did not seek re-election.

Jones and Kasten ran a close race all night. Although Jones led most of the evening, his margin hovered around 200 votes until late.

Jones finished with 4,047 votes, followed by Kasten with 3,660 and Tooke with 815.

Kasten's father, Dr. Melvin Kasten, spent the evening keeping a close watch on returns for his son.

Jones, a Jackson newspaper publisher and businessman, said the key to his victory was making inroads in Cape Girardeau, where he was not well known.

"My door-to-door work in Cape made the difference," said Jones. "I knew a few people going into the race there, but I had a strong campaign organization and we were able to get our message out. People like to see their candidates."

Jones was endorsed by Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep, who did not seek re-election this year. Kasten was supported in the primary by 8th District U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson.

Jones said he enjoyed the campaign. "Overall, the whole campaign was fun but tiresome," said Jones. "But I would have been a winner either way because the people I met were nice.

"I also have to say that Howard Tooke and Mike Kasten were both gentlemen. They had a very clean, well-run campaign and I appreciate that."