SHAFFER WINS 10-WAY SCOTT COMMISSION RACE

Dewaine Shaffer took an early lead and never looked back Tuesday night in the primary race for the Democratic ticket to November's general election for Scott County Commission 2nd District.

Capitalizing on an overwhelming 67 percent, 518 out of 769, of Chaffee's Democratic voters Shaffer, went on to hold off appointed incumbent Wayne Petitt by a slim 899 to 873 votes. He took the primary by a mere .62 percent over Petitt, 21.22 percent to 20.60, of the total 4,236 votes cast.

Shaffer, 49, of Chaffee, served as Scott County commissioner from 1981-88 and lost the seat to Joe Spalding. Spalding served until his death on Dec. 13, 1995, and Petitt was appointed in January to fill out his term.

Shaffer led the primary race by as much as 239 votes early in the return. His closest challenger early on was Charles Klueppel, who ended the night third with 693 votes. Rounding out the 10-candidate primary was Ben Evans, 472 votes; Joe Lee Michael, 383; Jimmy Sanders, 300; David Dirnberger, 228; Robert Niederkorn, 142; and Jim Smiley, 54.

According to County Clerk Rita Milam's office, 7,144 of the registered voters cast a ballot in Tuesday's election.

Shaffer will now face Republican Kelly Swain in November's general election.

In the other two Democratic elections:

* Teresa Houchin retained her seat as Scott County assessor with a commanding win over James Brewer and John Merrick.

Houchin captured 3,179 votes, or 52.38 percent, to Merrick's 1,993, 32.83 percent, and Brewer's 897, 14.78 percent.

Houchin, of Sikeston, has been county assessor since September of 1993. Since there is no challenger from any other party, Houchin's primary victory will claim the office for her.

* Sonny Alcorn also kept his position as Scott County public administrator with 2,637 votes, or 44.71 percent. He is not challenged in the primary.

Alcorn beat out Clifford Pobst, 1,744 votes, and Louie Hirschowitz, 1,516, for his third and final term as public administrator.

Alcorn said after he was told of his victory that this would be the last four years he would serve. Before he leaves though he said he would like to get the Scott County Commission to approve a computer for use by the public administrator.

* In state races, Democrat Mel Carnahan and Republican Margaret Kelly took Scott County's votes for governor. Republican Richard Kline and Democrat Emily Firebaugh won the county's vote for 8th Congressional District seat. Democrat Bekki Cook took the county's vote for secretary of state.