Two more to file for Cape County public administrator, one for assessor

Add two more names to the growing list of people who want to replace Cape Girardeau County Public Administrator Phyllis Schwab -- that's six now -- and a third who wants voters to pick her to take over for outgoing Assessor Jerry Reynolds.

With eight days until the filing period begins, registered nurse Kim Kelley and retired social worker Helen Jackson have joined the race for public administrator as Republican candidates.

Each intend to make their case to voters, saying they have the backgrounds to care of the county's 150 or so residents who have been declared unable to care for themselves because of advanced age or physical or mental impairment.

Amy Jones

Amy Jones, meanwhile, says she intends to file as a Republican for the job of assessor, which came up for grabs last month when Reynolds, a Democrat, announced he was stepping down after 36 years in the post.

"I have always had a strong commitment to community service and have assisted many other local and state candidates," said Jones, a real estate agent and daughter-in-law of former presiding commissioner Gerald Jones. "The office of assessor matches my background and skill set, therefore, I decided it was time for me to serve the community in a full-time capacity."

Ron Andrews, the assessor's information technology director, and Bob Adams, a Jackson appraiser, also intend to file to replace Reynolds.

The assessor's job is to locate all taxable property in the county and identify ownership, establish value for all property and list that value on the assessment rolls for taxation. In Reynold's tenure, the county's taxable property value grew from $176 million to more than $1 billion.

The public administrator's position calls for taking care of "wards" after being court-appointed to do so. That makes the public administrator responsible for the care, treatment, habilitation and support of the county's incapacitated.

The two open seats have drawn much interest so far and others are said to be considering candidacies. In addition to the three who want the assessor job, six -- five Republicans and one Democrat -- have said they want to become the county's next public administrator.

Helen Jackson

On Friday, Kelley and Jackson, both Republicans, threw their hats in the ring, joining Democrat Mary Cotner and Republicans Kenny Loos, Linda Nash and Scott Schnurbusch. Cotner is a physical therapist's assistant at SoutheastHEALTH; Loos is admissions director at Jackson Manor; Nash is the executive director of Court Appointed Special Advocates of Southeast Missouri; and Schnurbusch is a deputy at the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department.

Kim Kelley

Kelley has been a registered nurse at Southeast Hospital for three years, working as a perioperative nurse. She also pointed to her business background, having co-owned and managed Kelley Transportation and Nip Kelley Trucking and Construction.

"As a mother and nurse, my instinct is to care for people," she said. " ... I have taken care of people when they were at their most vulnerable and been their advocate."

Jackson worked for the Missouri Department of Social Services for 35 years until she retired. But she says it was a job that put her into constant contact with the elderly and physically and mentally handicapped.

"I have the heart and the willingness to serve these individuals who are less fortunate," she said.

The filing period, as of now, is set to begin Feb. 27, although it may be delayed. The Missouri Senate voted Thursday to push back the start of the state's candidacy filing period to March 27 because of uncertainties over the boundaries of legislative districts.

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