THREE VIE FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR IN CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY

John Ferguson, Ken Bryan and Phyllis Schwab have one thing in common. They all want to be public administrator for Cape Girardeau County.

Ferguson, who has served as public administrator for 11 years, is seeking re-election. He faces a Republican primary challenge in the Aug. 8 election from Bryan and Schwab.

The winner will face Democrat Michael Hurst of Cape Girardeau in the November election.

The primary battle has drawn attention to a county office whose operations go largely unnoticed by the public.

The three Republican candidates say most people don't have a clue what a public administrator does.

The court assigns the public administrator to handle the financial and personal affairs of disabled, incapacitated and deceased adults and certain minors.

Ferguson has been paid from fees, based on a percentage of the value of the estates he is handling, as well as $10,000 from the county.

But in January, the public administrator will have a choice as to whether to continue the current arrangement or be paid a $42,458 salary.

Bryan said he would accept the salary. Schwab and Ferguson said they are uncertain which payment method they would choose.

Ferguson said it is possible he could make more money by sticking with the fee arrangement.

Ferguson currently serves as guardian for more than 100 people. To that end, he has contacts with 53 nursing homes, residential care facilities, boarding homes and health care providers.

Bryan and Schwab have campaigned on the need for a compassionate public administrator.

"I feel the office needs a compassionate person to manage the affairs of those who aren't capable of handling their own affairs," he said.

Bryan, whose wife work at VIP Industries, said he has seen adults who live in poor conditions. "I have seen cases where people had filthy rags on, eating food that they shouldn't have to eat."

Bryan said the public administrator should look after individuals' personal affairs as well as their money matters.

"Do they live in a clean, decent atmosphere? Do they have enough to eat and clothes to wear?"

Said Bryan, "The simple everyday needs that you and I expect in our lives need to be looked after and followed up on in their lives."

A public administrator must do more than sit behind a desk and fill out paperwork, he said.

Schwab agrees. "You've got to see them even though they are in someone else's care," she said.

Schwab believes those persons in the care of a public administrator should receive burial insurance so there will be money available to pay funeral costs when they die.

Bryan said he might continue to work at Concord Printing while handling the duties of public administrator. But he said serving as public administrator would be his first priority.

Schwab said she would devote full time to the job of public administrator. "I have got the time. My family is raised. I think I would enjoy doing it."

Bryan announced his candidacy last August.

Schwab said she probably wouldn't have entered the race if she had known that Ferguson would seek re-election. "I kind of hate asking people in my own party to make choices. But I am not a quitter," she said.

Ferguson initially said he wouldn't run for re-election. He was considering running for the 158th House seat held by retiring state Rep. Mary Kasten.

But in the end he chose not to run for that seat, but rather seek re-election to his current office.

Schwab said she believes she has the experience to find the right government agencies and officials to address the needs of a public administrator's clients.

The public administrator often deals with people who receive Medicaid and Medicare assistance.

"I have a real innate feeling in me to work with people," she said.

Ferguson said he has compassion too. But he said it takes more than compassion to do the job of public administrator.

He said the job involves dealing with social service agencies and nursing homes. There's also the matter of money.

Ferguson said he handles well over half a million dollars a year of people's money and property. He takes care of the checking accounts, but uses an accountant to handle the tax work.

"I don't need a degree in accounting to add and subtract," he said.

Ferguson said he annually reports to the probate court, providing a complete accounting of his clients' finances. The court, he said, audits his records

Ferguson has a deputy public administrator. He pays her out of the fees he collects. Although he isn't legally required to have a deputy administrator, Ferguson said the job is too big for one person to handle.

The public administrator or his deputy must be available seven days a week, 24 hours a day, he said.

"It is a full-time job," said Ferguson, who enjoys the duties. "I work on it every day."

John Ferguson

Age: 66

Hometown: Cape Girardeau

Party: Republican

Job History: Public administrator for the past 11 years. Retired Congregational Methodist pastor. Owns and manages a Cape Girardeau apartment complex. Worked 15 years for the McDonald's Restaurant chain. Served in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division.

Education: Graduated from Niangua, Mo., High School. Attended Southeast Missouri State University. Completed seminary work at St. Paul Seminary in Kansas City, Mo.

Personal: Married. He and his wife, Shirley, have two children.

Phyllis V. Schwab

Age: 58

Hometown: Jackson

Party: Republican

Job History: Currently owns and operates Schwab Farms in Cape Girardeau County with her husband, state Rep. David Schwab. Owned and operated Lohman's Shoe Store in Jackson for nine years and Schwab Pines Christmas tree farm for 14 years. Worked for the late Bill Emerson as campaign field coordinator and as in-district secretary for state Rep. Mary Kasten.

Education: Graduated from Shawnee High School in Wolf Lake, Ill. Attended Patricia Stevens Finishing School in St. Louis.

Personal: Married. She and her husband, David, have three children.

Ken Bryan

Age: 63

Hometown: Cape Girardeau

Party: Republican

Job History: Account executive with Concord Printing. Owned and operated PrinIt Press, a commercial printing company for 17 years. Worked as an account executive for the Southeast Missourian. Served four years in the Navy.

Education: Graduated from Willow Springs High School. Attended the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Personal: Married. He and his wife, Diane Naeter Bryan, have two children.