THREE VIE FOR SCOTT COUNTY PRESIDING COMMISSIONER SEAT; FOURTH RELUCTANT

BENTON -- When Scott County Presiding Commissioner Bob Kielhofner decided not to seek re-election, he left the seat up for grabs. It is a hotly contested four-man race in the upcoming primary.

With no Republican on the primary ballot, the winner of Tuesday's primary vote will become the next presiding commissioner of Scott County.

Dennis Ziegenhorn, Martin Priggel and George Morris are all actively vying for the presiding commissioner seat.

A fourth candidate on the ballot, Joel "Chuck" Bollinger of Scott City, is no longer actively pursuing the office. On July 1, Bollinger took a job as a dispatcher for the Scott County Sheriff's Department. His position within the department prevents him from actively pursuing the political post.

When reached at the sheriff's department, Bollinger declined to comment on the upcoming race.

Sikeston real estate agent Dennis Ziegenhorn, perhaps the best known of the four candidates, returns to political life after a four-year absence. Ziegenhorn spent seven terms, from 1980 to 1994, in the state legislature representing the area. It is his experience in state government Ziegenhorn wants to use to help Scott County grow.

"The county commission needs to stretch out a little bit, to expand its duties," he said.

While acknowledging the importance of meeting the everyday needs of the county, he also thinks he can use his contacts in Jefferson City and his knowledge of state government to bring economic development and jobs to the county.

"It's terrible that we educate our kids in Scott County and then send them to St. Louis to get a job," he said. "That's just not right."

He hopes under his leadership to increase the $6 million budget of the county to $12 million without a tax increase. But the only way to do that is by bringing in more taxpayers, which means economic development.

"It means going to Jefferson City, knocking on doors and saying, 'Here's what we have to offer,'" he said.

Oran farmer and businessman Priggel emphasizes that, unlike Ziegenhorn, he is not a politician and has never been elected to political office.

"I consider myself a businessman and not a politician," he said. "I haven't made a living in politics."

Priggel, who came to Oran in 1962, turned a 60-acre farm to a 6,000-acre operation. He hopes to duplicate the success that he has had in business as the presiding commissioner and pledges to run the county as he would run a business.

His chief concern for the county is keeping the county operating in the black. But he also expressed concern about public safety in the county, where, he said, the jails eat up a good portion of the county's budget.

In addition, he hopes to get elected officials throughout the county, including the city councils of the various communities, to work better together.

"There's more division than there should be between the northern and southern parts of the county," he said.

He thinks his ability to sit down and talk to people will bring people in the county together.

Sikeston resident Morris, a manager of engineering design for Southwestern Bell for the past 29 years, thinks the main job of the presiding commissioner is overseeing the budget and infrastructure of the county.

The biggest part of the oversight is in working with the roads, he said. As an engineer for Southwestern Bell, Morris said he has spent a lot of time working with the Missouri Department of Transportation on the roads throughout the county.

"We constantly have to look at spending money, where we can spend it the wisest and where we can defer from spending it, where we can get the most benefit at the least expense," he said.

Morris said his main concerns he hopes to address in addition to the roads are the jail space shortage, the overloaded judicial system and flooding in the county.

This campaign is not Morris' first entry into political life. In the late 1970s, when he worked for Southwestern Bell in the Malden area, Morris was elected to the Malden City Council.

SCOTT COUNTY RACES

George Morris

Age: 51

Education: Three Rivers Community College

Job History: Manager engineering design, Southwestern Bell, 29 years.

Previous office: former alderman on the Malden City Council

Family: Three sons; engaged to Kathy Henry.

Dennis Ziegenhorn

Age: 50

Education: Memphis State University

Job History: Co-owner of 731 Realty

Previous office: Missouri legislature, 1980 - 1994

Family: Wife, Karen; two children

Martin Priggel

Age: 57

Education: University of Missouri

Job History: farmer

Previous office: none

Family: Wife, Malinda; six children