Sheriff candidates raise almost $40,000

While the 20-horse county commission races have grabbed the headlines, there is some serious campaigning going on down the stretch in other Cape Girardeau County races as well. That's particularly true in the sheriff race where the two Republican candidates, incumbent John Jordan and Alan Foust, have raised almost $40,000 to spend on their Aug. 3 primary campaigns.

Jordan, sheriff the last 10 years, has considerable political backing, collecting a total of $30,931 for this election. Foust has generated $8,995.

Both have extensive backgrounds in law enforcement.

Foust and Jordan say they are good friends. At the candidate forum Thursday night, however, Foust claimed the department is at a near-crisis state.

Based on the national standard of two patrol officers per 1,000 residents, Foust claims the sheriff's department is only half-staffed. Foust also says the department is top-heavy and suggests implementing a deputy system instead of a system using the ranks of lieutenant and captain and so forth.

Jordan said it would be nice to have more patrol officers but that there is no money in the budget to add staff. He said unless county residents ask for a tax increase to support more officers, the department will continue to run as it is now. He also said that while the department has grown by about 20 officers since he took office, from 40 to 60, he has only increased the number of administrative positions by one.

Jordan said a command staff at the jail, which opened in 2001, is essential for preventing accidents and potential lawsuits by inmates.

Foust has the official backing of the Cape Girardeau Police Officer Association. Jordan says the association didn't back him because of a difference of opinion on the crime reduction fund, the unionization of police officers and because Foust has close friends in the association who campaigned on his behalf.

Both men have created Web sites for their cause: www.foustforsheriff.com and www.sheriffjordan.org.

The winner of this primary will be the next sheriff. There is no Democrat waiting in the general election.

County coroner

Republicans John Clifton and Edward Frenzel are running for coroner, the only part-time position on the ballot.

The $19,959 job currently is held by Democrat Mike Hurst, who a few months ago asked the county commission to make the position full time because of its demands.

Clifton, a private investigator, is running on his experience in investigation and law enforcement. He has 30 years experience in law enforcement, including a stint as deputy coroner for Cape Girardeau County.

Frenzel is emphasizing his medical experience, which he says will help him investigate deaths. He is a former nurse whose license was suspended for verbally and physically abusing patients. His license was later revoked for probation violation. Frenzel claims he was trying to keep the patient from injuring himself.

Public administrator

The only Democratic primary in the entire county election is in the public administrator's race, where Sharla "Charlie" Harrison and Deborah McBride are battling to face Republican Phyllis Schwab.

Public administrators help take care of people who are ruled by a judge to be incompetent.

McBride has more business experience -- a business administration degree, 10 years office management experience, five years of accounting. She also has worked with seniors in nursing homes and spent three years working as a women's counselor.

Harrison has more counseling experience -- a master's degree in counseling and development. She is also a professional counselor.

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