The GOP's primary crowd

An unprecedented number of candidates -- 20 -- are running for the two open seats on the Cape Girardeau County Commission this year, vying for a job with a $54,968 salary and responsibility for managing an annual budget of about $13 million.

For those voting in the Republican primary, the voting booth will be a ballot buffet.

Cape Girardeau residents can pick from a county treasurer, a grocery store owner, a former deputy, a former bank executive, a disabled police veteran, a local politician who is a Dana Corp. employee, a downtown restaurant owner, a communications business owner or a cop.

The choices include two Bills and a Barry, a Kathy or a Clay, a Dan or a Doc.

Jackson voters can choose from a couple of construction guys, a service technician, a former county technology director, a car repair shop owner, a current commissioner, a former riverboat captain or a former law enforcement officer who now works at Procter & Gamble.

There are two Davids, a Doug and a Don, a Richard, a Robert, a Charlie, a Larry and a J.W.

The candidates have begun formulating strategies that will be particularly important for the nine Republicans in each district who must try to separate themselves from the elephant herd.

"Talk about a proliferation of signs ... it's going to be a nightmare," candidate Dan Niswonger said.

Only two Democrats are running for county commission: Jim Bowers for District 2 and Fred Wilkinson for District 1.

Because many of the candidates are running on similar platforms -- working the position full-time, improving the county roads, attracting industry -- the voters will base their choice more on personality than on policy.

"With this many people, you have to run the campaign on yourself," candidate Kathy Swan said. "You run on your reputation, the work ethic you established throughout the community. I'm not looking at other candidates because there are just so many of us. I'm running on me, not against anyone else."

Most already have begun campaigning. Signs have been poked into lawns. Faces have been plastered on billboards. Knuckles have knocked on doors.

Others are waiting to make a big impact later this month and in July.

Whatever the case may be, it won't be easy winning an election with so many candidates.

Several of the candidates predict 1,000 votes will win the election. Others aren't sure what or how many supporters to expect Aug. 3.

"It's hard to tell," said candidate Doc Cain. "In 2000, it only took 3,000 votes in the primary. Granted, there were two candidates at the time. This time you have nine running in our race."

Richard Rushin said he set an early goal of 1,000 votes, but with so many other candidates -- and with the same-sex marriage issue being on the August ballot -- more votes may be needed to win, he said.

Campaign styles

When it comes to campaign money, there are two schools of thought.

Some believe old-fashioned door-to-door canvassing will win the election, not money. In other words, it's not how much you have but how many people you know.

David Blumenberg and J.W. Strack, both candidates from rural areas in the county, said they have attended or will attend various church events, trying to spread their message.

Others think money will allow them to reach the undecided voters through advertising.

Bill Stanfield said he has put out a few signs and has started knocking on doors. He said all the candidates have their legion of followers who will vote for them no matter what.

"There's still a lot of people who don't know any of the candidates, and they have to make their decision on the information that's available to them," he said.

Barry Hovis said he's going to work at reaching people who vote consistently.

Some are running full-fledged campaigns, holding fund-raising picnics and trying to build a network of voters. Others will depend more on door-to-door visiting and name recognition.

Niswonger has decided to finance his campaign himself. He'll buy yard signs and rely on friends and family to get his message out.

"I don't foresee spending tons and tons of money," he said. "I'm going to stores, visiting people on sidewalks, that simple type of stuff. Name recognition means a lot. I've grown up here and have held a public job as a police officer."

He thinks it's going to be a close race that won't require lots of votes to win.

Longtime county treasurer Bill Reynolds said he'll run on his name.

"I'm not going to knock heads with nine or 10 different people and see who can put up the most signs," he said. "I'm going to hope that the people I know spread the word, and maybe I'll run a few ads before the election."

Clay Waller has said he is financing his own campaign. He has leased a couple of billboards in Cape Girardeau and purchased sign space on cabs.

"I can't compete with some of the other candidates financially," he said. "I don't have as much money to spend, so I'll try to dedicate more hours door-to-door. I'm taking a grass-roots approach. I haven't really been asking for money because money is tight now for everybody."

Still others are being secretive about their strategies.

Walter White, who ran for Cape Girardeau mayor and lost in 2002, said he learned a lot from that campaign.

"I'm doing it the smart way," he said. "I'll probably go on the radio and TV. I can't mention my strategy, though."

bmiller@semissourian.com

243-6635