PERRY COMMISSION SEATS ATTRACTIVE: LOHMANN FACES FOUR CHALLENGERS IN EAST

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- The last time Dennis E. Lohmann ran for Eastern District commissioner of Perry County he won by one vote over Gary A. Lauck.

Both men say they are working harder this time.

Lohmann and Lauck are two of five Republicans running for the job of Eastern District commissioner. No Democrats have filed for the Aug. 8 primary election.

Overall, participation is slightly greater in the county's commission races, said Randy Taylor, county clerk. In 1996, eight candidates competed in primaries for the two commissioners jobs, and all were Republicans, Taylor said.

One reason for the growth is higher commissioner salaries, the clerk said. In a period of 10 years, the pay has almost doubled to its present level of $25,308 annually.

Changes in property assessed valuations in the developing third-class county and various legislative changes are responsible for the growth, Taylor said.

Lohmann, 55, has served as commissioner since 1995. The Perryville resident has been in office for two terms.

Lohmann was raised in Farrar, Mo., on a farm. He operated a heating and cooling business in the area for 10 years. Presently he is a bartender at the American Legion club in Perryville, where he has mixed drinks since 1986.

The incumbent said creating a balanced budget and increasing the county's emergency reserve by more than $500,000 without a tax increase are among his best accomplishments.

He also notes that during the last five years he has helped with the implementation of a county 911 system, replaced five bridges in the eastern half of the county and completed four miles of asphalt roads.

Although the number of miles of asphalt might seem small, Lohmann said it is in proportion with the road and bridge department's budget. It now takes more than $100,000 to complete one mile of asphalt with the increase of oil prices making the difference, he said.

A less expensive alternative for getting the most out of the county's $250,000 annual budget for road improvements would be increased use of oil and chip coverings, Lohmann said. He wants to see 10 or more miles covered with the mixture each year for the next four years.

Lauck, 47, of Perryville, has been owner-operator of G.L. Trucking for 30 years. His company has two trucks driven by Lauck and his wife, Patricia.

He has run for commissioner twice, losing by one vote in 1996 and by 74 votes in 1992.

His trucking business takes him all over the county, Lauck said, so he knows what needs to be done.

A better program for cutting and then spraying brush along the roadways needs to be implemented, he said.

"You'll cut the brush back one year and the next it grows back twice as thick," Lauck said. "It's a never-ending battle, and spraying would help."

He would like to build more blacktop roads, since he doesn't think the oil and chip coverings are rugged enough if the county experiences hard winters.

He also wants to increase the road and bridge department's budget from $1.4 million a year to $2 million. The means for generating this extra money would have to be examined, Lauck said.

Charles A. Franke, 61, of Uniontown, Mo., has never run for a political position, but he believes now is the time.

Franke said he has served in various positions in the county that give him insight into how operations should be carried out. He has served on the Perry County Soil and Water District board for 25 years, most of them as vice-chairman, he said. He has also served on boards for MFA Oil Co., long-range planning for District 32 schools, and the agricultural extension council.

"I've worked with people all my life, so I thought now would be a good time to run," said Franke, who operates a logging business from his farm.

Besides bringing roads up to date, Franke said law enforcement should be strengthened by finding means to increase the size of the Perry County Sheriff's Department and its patrols throughout the county.

Other candidates running for Eastern District commissioner are Edwin Stueve Jr. of Frohna, Mo., and Scott "Scottie" G. Buerck of Perryville. Stueve and Buerck could not be reached for comment.

The candidates:

For Perry County Eastern District commissioner

Charles A. Franke, 61, of Uniontown

Dennis E. Lohmann, 55, of Perryville

Edwin Stueve Jr. of Frohna

Gary A. Lauck, 47, of Perryville

Scott "Scottie" G. Buerck of Perryville

For Perry County Western District commissioner

Eldon "Sonny" Kaufmann, 59, of Perryville

Wayne M. Terbrak of Perryville

Michael E. Yamnitz, 39, of Perryville

Prince Hudson, 49, of Perryville

Jason Lee Austin of St. Mary

Patrick Heaps, 49, of Perryville

Danny Valleroy, 42, of Perryville

Merlin J. Christisen, 61, of Perryville