SCHAAF, DETJEN FACE SHOWDOWN IN NOVEMBER

PERRYVILLE -- Despite disproved allegations of wrongdoing just before Tuesday's primary, Perry County Sheriff Gary Schaaf beat his only Republican challenger.

The race pitted Schaaf, elected to his position in 1992, against Tom Burger. Burger recently retired from the Missouri State Highway Patrol after 30 years of service.

Schaaf received 1,743 votes to Burger's 1,014.

Schaaf said the biggest factor in the primary was Democrat Raymond Detjen. Detjen worked as a deputy in the sheriff's department for four years before resigning in June.

In July, he claimed Schaaf tried to sell him a stolen car recovered by the sheriff's department. The case went to a special prosecutor, who eventually charged a deputy and a used car salesman with stealing and acceding to corruption in connection with the case.

Schaaf said he told the deputy from the beginning to return the car to the proper owner. Instead, the deputy allegedly joined with the used car salesman to repair and sell the car. The two recovered less than $200 each from the sale.

The special prosecutor's findings effectively cleared Schaaf of allegations, and the sheriff likely will serve as a witness when the case is tried.

After Tuesday night's election, Schaaf said Detjen's false statements about him were damaging. However, he was pleased things went so well despite his challenger.

"I think a lot of people saw what (Detjen) was saying for what it was," he said. "But anytime someone throws mud, some of it is bound to stick. It seems the truth won out here, and I'm really happy about it."

Schaaf said he had a few nerveracking moments after an equipment failure temporarily halted the ballot counting process, but he was leading prior to the breakdown.

After recovering from his primary battle, Schaaf said he will begin campaigning heavily for the November general election.

Detjen was unchallenged in the primary. He is running on an anti-drug record, having made one of the largest marijuana busts in Perry County history in 1988.