REPUBLICANS CHALLENGE MOUSER IN BILLINGER COUNTY

MARBLE HILL -- Bollinger County presiding commissioner Elwood Mouser should be rebuffed in the Aug. 4 Republican primary because of his inaction and resulting loss of respect for his office, his opponents say.

The Republican primary winner will face in November unchallenged Democrat Kenny Trentham for presiding commissioner.

Mouser, 71, had no counter for his critics.

"It's strictly up to voters," he said. "I feel like I've done a fair job. I've been there eight years, and financially the county's in better shape than it ever was.

"I've got to watch what I say or they'll think I'm bragging," he said.

Bill Nitsch, 40, said for the pay Mouser gets, residents "deserve more out of the county commissioner."

"I think county residents expect you maybe one day a week to be out there hustling a little more than that," he said.

Mouser's other primary opponent, Bill Fulton, 65, said Bollinger countians' regard for the presiding commissioner's office has eroded.

"I'd like to just see a little better attitude from the commission and toward the commission from the people of the county," he said. "I hear several comments saying, `Aw, they just sit down there and draw their pay.' That's the kind of an attitude people have."

Mouser said the Bollinger County Commission has been active, and he wants to see new projects completed, including a new bridge that will span the Castor River at Gypsy.

Mouser also said his familiarity with heavy machinery is valuable.

"I feel we have the best machinery of any county around us," he said. "For us, with 960 miles of roads, it's pretty important to know what you're buying."

Fulton, a Patton farmer who has lived in the county all his life, has been active in agriculture groups and is a charter member of the Patton Lions Club.

He has served on the local University of Missouri Extension Service council and the Farmer's Home Administration county committee. He was president of the Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service county committee and is the sales manager of the Bollinger County Livestock Producers Association.

Besides boosting respect for the office, Fulton said his priority, if elected, would be better maintenance of county roads. He also said he would seek a grant for an elevator for the courthouse in Marble Hill and would find a place to house county records.

And he said he would listen to county residents.

"I really think I get along with people a little better than he (Mouser) can," Fulton said. "I just think we need some fresh ideas."

As does Nitsch.

Nitsch, who is a quarter-century younger than Fulton and 31 years younger than Mouser, acknowledged he is the underdog. By touting his economic development ideas, he said he hopes to become "top dog."

"I see a lot of future for Bollinger County," said the rural Sedgewickville cattle farmer. "We're sitting here on the edge of Cape (Girardeau) County, and I see a lot of growth coming here.

"And I think it needs a leader, someone who's a little aggressive to get in there and handle it."

Nitsch said his experience as Meadow Heights Board of Education president and Bollinger County Farm Bureau president would help him.

He said his goal would be to better coordinate the County Commission with the mayors and administrators of the county's towns. And he thinks infrastructure enhancements such as improvements to old highways are needed.

He said he would be more aggressive than Mouser in trolling for federal grants. "Maybe Bollinger County would be eligible for more grant money. Maybe we aren't getting our total share," he said.

While Mouser and Fulton didn't mention as a pertinent issue the shelved Cape Girardeau County-Bollinger County recreational lake proposal, Nitsch said he supports it. Mouser has said he opposes the lake project. The County Commission refused to allow voters to decide the issue.

"I feel comfortable with (the lake)," said Nitsch, who owns property where the lake would be built. "This is a private property rights issue, and I've always agreed with Missouri Farm Bureau policy on this."

But, he said, "from the feedback that I've received, the majority of the property owners don't seem too interested."

Bill Fulton

Town: Patton

Party: Republican

Age: 65

Education: Some high school

Occupation: Farmer

Previous offices held: none

Family: Wife, Lena Mae, is second-grade teacher at Meadow Heights; daughter, son, four grandchildren

Elwood Mouser

Town: outside Marble Hill

Party: Republican

Age: 71

Education: Zalma High graduate

Occupation: Cattle farmer

Previous offices held: incumbent; no other offices

Family: Wife, Virginia Lee; three daughters, son, six grandchildren

Bill Nitsch

Town: outside Sedgewickville

Party: Republican

Age: 40

Education: Two years at SEMO

Occupation: Cattle farmer

Previous offices: President of Meadow Heights school board, Bollinger County Farm Bureau president

Family: Wife, Kristi; one son