PERRY COUNTY COMMISSIONER RACE DRAWS FIVE

PERRYVILLE -- Five candidates are competing in Tuesday's primary election for the Republican nomination to become Perry County's next presiding commissioner.

Incumbent Karl Klaus isn't seeking re-election after having held the post for 12 years. The winner of the primary will win the post in November. No one has filed for the office on the Democratic ballot.

Gary Lauck, 45, is seeking office "for the simple reason I think I can help better Perry County."

Lauck, who lives in rural Perry County, owns Gary Lauck Trucking. He cites his experience in business and transportation as helpful for the job.

Lauck said: "The main thing is to budget the money for the county. Roads and bridges are the main things up here. We've had a lot of complaints out in the country from people wanting their roads fixed."

He said his goal is "equal representation all over the county for the people in the country as well as in the city."

Lauck ran for the Eastern District commission seat in 1996 and lost.

Brad Moll, 37, also cites his business experience as manager of Meyer Bus Lines in Perryville.

He said he has a strong knowledge of road conditions in the county. "And I'm capable of managing a budget and making wise decisions without getting the county into a financial burden," he said.

Perry County is a nice place to live, although some residents are concerned about bridges, Moll said.

"I don't know that there's any real big major problems. I think things are running fairly smooth in the county right now," he said.

He said his goals include keeping the county "financially stable."

Gary Schumer, 47, now represents Ward 3 on the Perryville Board of Aldermen. If elected presiding commissioner, Schumer said he will resign his city post.

Schumer is owner and president of Schumer Bros., Inc., a plumbing, heating and cooling business.

Schumer said he wants to continue the good work done by Klaus. "I just want to continue to keep Perry County progressive and prosperous."

He said maintaining a healthy balanced budget is the presiding commissioner's primary responsibility.

"I want to keep the county fiscally sound while maintaining some vision and accountability," he said.

His goals include working with the state to get another Perry County interchange at Interstate 55 and putting more emphasis on disaster preparedness in the county.

Tom Sutterer, 60, also cites roads and bridges and the county budget as the main issues facing the presiding commissioner.

He is the owner of TS Building Co., a general contracting firm.

"I feel that I have the qualifications to do the job, the experience of many years of being in business, and I wanted to offer my services to the county in that capacity, because it's very important, especially with the way the county is growing," Sutterer said.

He previously served on the Perryville Board of Aldermen.

Sutterer said he doesn't have any specific goals, "mainly because I'm a person that feels you need to be inside looking out before you can use good common-sense views on what's needed."

Gene Tucker, 63, says that now that he's retired he's the candidate with enough time to do the job right.

Tucker, formerly the postmaster of Frohna, said the county budget and road and bridge maintenance are the main issues facing the commissioner.

His goal is to "keep the budget in the black, as it has been in recent years, and to serve the people in the best possible manner and to keep taxes reasonable."

The race is one of only two contested races in the primary: Incumbent Donna Guemmer and challenger Becky Paulus are competing for the Republican nomination for the office of circuit clerk and ex-officio recorder of deeds.

PERRY COUNTY COMMISSION

Gary Lauck (no photo)

Age: 45

3272 PCR 520, Perryville

Wife, Patricia.

Owner, Gary Lauck Trucking

No previous office. Ran unsuccessfully for Eastern District Commissioner in 1996.

Brad Moll (photo)

Age: 37

2101 Moll Ave., Perryville

Wife, Christine. Three children.

Manager, Meyer Bus Lines, Perryville.

First time seeking office.

Gary Schumer (photo)

Age: 47

1305 Alma Ave., Perryville.

Wife, Norma. Two grown children.

Owner and president, Schumer Bros., Inc., Perryville.

Now serves on Perryville Board of Aldermen.

Tom Sutterer (no photo)

Age: 60

22 Sutterer Place, Perryville.

Wife, Geraldine. Three grown children.

Owner, TS Building Co., Perryville.

Formerly served on the Perryville Board of Aldermen.

Gene Tucker

Age: 63

917 Schindler Road, Perryville.

Wife, Shirley.

Retired postmaster.

Formerly served on the Perryville Board of Aldermen, and ran unsuccessfully for the mayor of Perryville and Eastern District commission slots.