MISSISSIPPI COUNTY TO ELECT HEAD OF BOARD

EAST PRAIRIE -- Winning the Democratic primary in August was a difficult feat for Mississippi County presiding commissioner Jim Blumenberg, who now faces opposition from Republican challenger Donald A. Raithel in the Nov. 3 election.

Blumenberg lost his position briefly after challenger Steve Ledbetter won the primary by five votes. Blumenberg successfully challenged the election, however, after irregularities were found in the balloting.

After a special election in September, Blumenberg again became a contender for presiding commissioner.

Raithel, a chiropractor and Charleston resident of 25 years, thinks county commissioners have done a poor job of managing funds and that Mississippi County residents suffer from too much county taxation, which has caused industries to look elsewhere for possible development.

Commissioners are sundering the money, said Raithel, adding: "There have to be some changes made, or all it's going to do is run the county down."

If elected, Raithel said his first order of business would be to rework the county budget. Allocations need to be re-examined and, if necessary, changed so that spending needs are prioritized.

"If you say you're going to spend a certain amount of money on a project, then that's what the money should be used for," he said. "If there turns out to be a surplus, it needs to be used for repairs and upkeep of that project."

Blumenberg said the commission has done a good job of managing county funds. All sales taxes have been voter-approved and are allocated to a general fund unless specifically designated, as with sales taxes for law enforcement and a new courthouse and county jail.

Blumenberg will set his sights on installing a county planning and zoning committee if re-elected.

Voters authorized such a committee in 1976, but it had never been activated, he said. However, there will be an increasing need for proper planning as industrial development attracts new residents to the county, he said.

"We'll probably have a lot of people moving into the county with the prison and all, and the commission would like to get it established," said Blumenberg. "Our main goal is to get it operating in a proper way."

Name: Dr. Donald A. Raithel.

Age: 62.

Party: Republican.

Residence: Charleston.

Education: 1962 graduate, Logan Chiropractic College, Normandy, Mo.

Job history: Practice in Charleston since 1973, previous practice in St. Charles for 10 years.

Previous offices held: None

Family: Married to Nancy Raithel, has five adult children.

Name: Jim Blumenberg.

Age: 52.

Party: Democrat.

Residence: East Prairie.

Education: Anniston High School graduate.

Job history: Service station owner since 1970. Two years in U.S. Army; Vietnam War veteran.

Previous offices held: Presiding commissioner for 3 1/2 years. First elected associate commissioner in 1988 and has served six years. Served 12 years on East Prairie Board of Education.

Family: Married to Bonnie Blumenberg with three adult children.