Scott County voters seek change at sheriff's office

For the first time in 28 years, Scott County will have a sheriff other than Bill Ferrell beginning in November. The question answered by Tuesday night's primary election was which Democratic candidate would have a chance at taking Ferrell's place.

While Jerry Bledsoe was seen as Ferrell's chosen successor, having worked under Ferrell in the sheriff's department off and on for 24 years, voters picked Rick Walter. The Charleston Police Department officer became the Democratic nominee for Scott County sheriff with 53 percent of the vote.

Walter received 3,986 votes while Bledsoe got 3,605 votes.

Walter, who worked as a night deputy at the Scott County Sheriff's Department for a short period of time, ran against Ferrell in 2000 and lost by only 219 votes.

Partly because of Ferrell's small margin of victory, Walter felt he had a good chance of winning this year's primary election.

"I thought the voters were looking for a change, that's the response I had from many of the people I've talked to," Walter said

One idea Walter has been emphasizing is looking at new ways to pay for Scott County's jail that was built in 2000. A tax was passed in 2000 to pay for the jail, but Walter would like to see that tax expire in 2008 instead of being extended.

He said a possible way to raise money outside of the tax is by housing federal prisoners in the jail. Because of prison overpopulation problems, federal prisons will pay money for smaller jails to house these prisoners.

Walter now faces Republican Wes Drury, who was unopposed on the Republican ticket, in November's general election.

All the Scott County candidates had to wait longer than usual Tuesday night to find out all the election results, which were not ready until after 11 p.m. The delay was caused by a higher than anticipated voter turnout that caused some of the precincts to run out of Republican ballots. Ballots had to be photocopied, and the photocopied ballots could had to be counted by hand.

Forty percent of registered voters in Scott County participated in Tuesday's primary election, while only 23 percent participated in August 2002 primary elections.

In the primary race for Scott County assessor, incumbent Teresa Houchin beat Bill Keefer by 1,122 votes. Houchin has held the assessor's position since 1992.

Assessor candidate "Dee" Anne Marie Cookson was unopposed on the Republican ticket.

Houchin said this year marked the first time she has faced a Republican opponent. The incumbent expects an interesting race since Cookson was able to get 1,600 votes in the primary.

In the race for Scott County public administrator, voters chose Pam Dirnberger as the Democratic nominee and Jay Bledsoe as the Republican nominee. The current public administrator, H.J. Hollyfield, is retiring.

Dirnberger, who is currently self-employed at American Storage in Sikeston, received 47 percent of the votes, beating opponents Sonny Alcorn, Jim Marshall and Glendella May.

Voters elected Dennis Ziegenhorn as the Democratic nominee for 1st District commissioner and Jim Schwaninger as the Republican nominee. Ziegenhorn received 45 percent of the votes and Schwaninger received 60 percent.

Democratic incumbent Jamie Burger is running unopposed for 2nd District commissioner and Democratic incumbent Scott Amick is running unopposed for coroner.

Scott City sales tax

Voters approved a sales tax extension for Scott City by a vote of 596 to 298.

"I was very pleased," said Scott City Mayor Tim Porch.

The one-fourth of 1 percent sales tax was first approved by voters in 1998 to pay for fire department improvements, but expires in April 2005.

With the extension, city officials intend to pay for what they say are much needed projects in Scott City, including replacing the municipal building roof and widening an area of Main Street in order to create a center turn lane. The approval of the extension also means that Scott City residents will not have to purchase a city vehicle registration sticker, although Porch is not sure when that will go into effect.

kalfisi@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182