Jordan to seek another term as Cape County sheriff, but it might be his last

If elected to a fifth full term, Cape Girardeau County Sheriff John Jordan may call it quits once the term ends in 2016.

Jordan, a Republican who was first elected in 1994, confirmed Friday that he will seek re-election this year.

No other candidates have publicly come forward to oppose Jordan, and filing for positions begins today and ends March 27. Cape Girardeau County Democratic committee chairman Mark Baker said Monday that he was unaware of a Democratic sheriff candidate.

"I want to continue to basically provide law enforcement that's fundamentally fair to everyone," Jordan said Monday. "I want to continue what we've been doing for the last 18 years."

The four-year term could be Jordan's last. He said with limited certainty that he would retire in 2016, if re-elected.

"This is probably my last term," said Jordan, 51. "But never say never."

In 1994, voters chose Jordan, then 33 and a lieutenant with the sheriff's department, over longtime state highway patrolman Benny Hinton in a hotly contested special election. The election decided who would take over the remaining two years of Sheriff Norman Copeland's term. Copeland retired during his term, and Jordan garnered 53 percent of the vote in the special election.

Jordan again trumped Hinton in the 1996 election. He ran unopposed in 2000, and bested Alan Foust by 7,000 votes in the Republican primary before running in the general election unopposed in 2004. In 2008, Jordan ran unopposed in both the primary and general elections.

Looking back on his 18-year tenure as sheriff, Jordan said expanding the county jail in 2001 stands out as a highlight.

"We were able to accomplish that without bond issues or tax increases," Jordan said.

The $8 million expansion opened in March 2001 and allowed the jail to go from holding 64 inmates to 152. A U.S. Marshals grant and per diems for housing federal prisoners paid for the expansion.

Directing the Missouri Sheriffs Methamphetamine Relief Team is also a highlight, Jordan said. As the program's director, Jordan doled out government-issued funds to Missouri sheriffs and rural drug task forces to use in their fight against meth. The effort began in 2000 and ended last year when its funding was cut.

During MoSMART's existence, roughly 40,000 people were arrested for various charges related to the manufacturing of methamphetamine.

Jordan was also elected to a yearlong term as president of the Missouri Sheriffs' Association in 2011.

"I've been able to work with him on a few occasions and we've had a good working relationship," Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter said of Jordan.

Walter, a Democrat, is also seeking re-election in his county but could not immediately comment on his efforts. Walter said he planned to file for a re-election bid today.

Walter unsuccessfully ran against incumbent sheriff Bill Ferrell in 2000.

In 2004 -- the first sheriff's race in 28 years where incumbent Bill Ferrell was not up for election -- Walter defeated Republican Wes Drury by 1,518 votes. Walter defeated Bobby Sullivan in the 2008 Democratic primary before again beating Drury in the general election.

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