TRENTHAM ELECTED TO BOLLINGER COMMISSION

MARBLE HILL -- Bollinger County voters re-elected one incumbent and turned out another Tuesday.

Voters elected Marble Hill insurance agent Kenny Trentham as presiding commissioner.

Trentham, a Democrat, edged out incumbent Republican Elwood Mouser by 19 votes, 1,973 to 1,954.

Associate Circuit Judge Scott Thomsen was re-elected to a second term.

The Republican defeated Prosecuting Attorney Bill Hopkins for the second time in four years. Thomsen garnered 2,261 votes to 1,665 for Hopkins.

Hopkins lost his re-election bid for judge to Thomsen in 1994 and was then appointed prosecuting attorney by Gov. Mel Carnahan.

In his campaign, Trentham, 43, said he wanted the county commission to take an active role in industrial recruitment in an effort to promote economic growth.

Mouser, a farmer, said the limited county budget made it difficult for the county commission to initiate new projects.

Mouser served as presiding commissioner for the past eight years.

Trentham said Mouser was a friend. "I had a good opponent," he said following his victory.

In the race for associate circuit judge, Thomsen said he had delivered on his promise four years ago to improve the management of the office. He said he had run a professional court, treating everyone fairly.

About 45 percent of the county's 9,000 voters went to the polls.

County Collector Bob Anderson, Circuit Clerk Sharon Lutes, County Clerk Diane Holzum and Treasurer Naomi Null won re-election, running unopposed. Republican Stephen Gray was elected prosecuting attorney. He, too, was unopposed.