SCOTT COUNTY INCUMBENTS AND CHALLENGERS FILE FOR OFFICE

BENTON -- Sheriff Bill Ferrell was the first person to file for office in Scott County on Tuesday, when filing opened for the August primary election.

Only Democrats had filed for office Tuesday, assuring a primary race for sheriff and two county commission seats. All candidates are seeking four-year terms in office.

Filing remains open until March 28. If no Republicans file for office, then whoever wins the primary election is guaranteed a win in November.

Ferrell, a 24-year veteran of the office, would like to continue his work in law enforcement and see the county build a new jail. County residents will decide April 4 whether to approve an eight year sales tax to fund construction of a new jail and courthouse renovations.

A new jail "won't make my job any easier," Ferrell said. "It means more responsibility and more prisoners and more staff to go with it."

But he added, "It's really important to make the transition smooth," once the jail is built. And being re-elected to office will help him do just that, he said.

Ferrell had been a deputy sheriff and assessor before seeking office as sheriff.

He will face Rick Walter, a former officer in the Scott County department. Walter wants to make the department more efficient and the county a safer place to live.

Walter, 39, is a project coordinator at Penzel Construction in Jackson. He lives on Highway E between Scott City and Benton.

Other candidates seeking posts in the August primary:

* Jerry Burge and Walter Bizzell, both of Sikeston, filed for first district commissioner.

Sonny Alcorn, who is completing a term as public administrator, also filed for the office. When he sought re-election for public administrator in 1996, he said it would be his last for that office.

Burge has not held public office before. He has been an agent with Mitchell Insurance in Sikeston since 1973. He is a member of the Eagles and Elks clubs. He is a member of First Methodist Church in Caruthersville.

He and his wife, Judy, have two grown children and a grandson.

Bizzell is the current officeholder, and ran unopposed in the last election. He was first elected to the post in 1992. He is a former U.S. Postal Service worker and also runs a family lawn-care business in Sikeston.

* Jamie Burger of Benton and Dewaine Shaffer of Chaffee, filed for second district commissioner.

Burger has worked at Lone Star Industries for 16 1/2 years. He is president of the St. Denis school board and a member of the Men's Club at the church. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus. He and his wife, Sherry, have three children.

Burger, who hasn't held public office before, said now was the right time so seek office. "I had thought about it in the past but the timing wasn't right for my family. I've always had an interest in politics," he said.

Shaffer is the current officeholder; he was elected to the post in 1996 after beating out 10 other Democratic candidates in a primary.

Shaffer also served as a county commissioner from 1981 to 1988. He has been a farmer and independent contractor. He lives in Chaffee.

* Incumbent Teresa Houchin is seeking re-election as Scott County Assessor. She was first elected in 1992.

* Scott C. Amick of Scott City is seeking re-election as county coroner.

* H.J. "Cotton" Holyfield, who had previously served as county treasurer, filed for the public administration post.