SHAFFER, SWAIN GO HEAD TO HEAD FOR SCOTT COUNTY POST

CHAFFEE -- The race for the Scott County Commission District 2 seat is down to two quite different men.

Democrat Dewaine Shaffer defeated nine challengers, including sitting commissioner Wayne Petitt by a close 26 points, in the August primary election. He took 67 percent of Chaffee's votes, which is the residence of both November candidates.

Republican candidate Kelley Swain, who was unopposed in the primary, said he is not a professional politician like his opponent. He said he has spent the better part of his life working on the roads and bridges of Scott County and would like to continue those improvements from the District 2 seat.

"He's been in the county commission and from what I have gathered he didn't do his job," Swain said. "I've talked to people between New Hamburg and Oran who have had to pull their cars up hills with tractors because they can't drive on the roads."

Shaffer said his time in county government, from 1981 to 1988, is an asset and will serve him well in the 1990s.

"I feel like I'm more qualified for the job," he said. "I've got eight years experience."

Shaffer has said he is concentrating on bringing in new businesses to Scott County, a concern he has had during most of his years in county government. In the 1984 election he was able to defeat Joe Spalding to retain his District 2 seat by running on this issue.

"Two major railroads, Interstate 55 and the Mississippi River; these assets can increase job employment and open up prospects for future businesses in the county," he said prior to this year's primary election.

Both men have lived in Scott County all their lives. Swain was born in Sikeston and his family moved to the Chaffee area early on. He owns Swain Construction Co., has been married to Brenda for 29 years and they have two sons.

Shaffer, 49, of Chaffee, is a farmer and contractor. He is involved with the Chaffee Elks, and serves as a volunteer firefighter. He and his wife Dixie have two children.

Swain, 49, of rural Chaffee, has served as treasurer and a chairman for the Elks. He differs with current county commissioners in that he supports the city of Sikeston's 911 idea for the county's emergency service upgrade.

"I'd like to see the new 911 emergency system run as a central dispatch system not as an answering service," Swain said. He added he liked the idea of having medical personnel serving as dispatchers.

Swain also said he favors reducing the sheriff's budget, still provide for the new county jail project, and move some of those funds into other projects.