TWO VIE IN BOLLINGER COUNTY RACE

MARBLE HILL -- Bollinger County Presiding Commissioner Elwood Mouser, who won the Republican primary contest in August by a single vote, faces Democrat Kenny Trentham in the Nov. 3 general election.

The 71-year-old Mouser has served as presiding commissioner for the past eight years. He is seeking his third, four-year term.

Trentham, a Marble Hill insurance agent, wants the county commission to take an active role in industrial recruitment.

He said the county needs new industry, both for jobs and to expand the tax base.

Trentham said the county would be hard hit if the hat factory in Marble Hill closes.

"I would like to go out and pursue some smaller factories, try to get some industry to come into the county," he said.

The county needs economic growth. But at the same time, Trentham said he doesn't want Bollinger County to lose its rural charm.

"I don't want to see us lose our small-town values and traditions."

The county also needs to do more to promote tourism and take an active role in efforts to develop the vacant Will Mayfield College into a higher education center affiliated with Southeast Missouri State University, Trentham said.

"Tourism is on the rise and we have a lot of good things to attract people," said Trentham.

But Mouser said the commission has to be realistic when it comes to funding.

Bollinger County government operates on a budget of about $1.7 million a year. But $900,000 of that is spent on roads and bridges, Mouser said.

The county has 960 miles of gravel roads. The hilly region makes it hard to maintain the roads, Mouser said.

"You just have to make do with what you've got," the presiding commissioner said.

"We've got to have more revenue, but I don't know how to get it.

"Our property taxes are getting heavy. Our sales taxes are high. It doesn't leave us much room," Mouser said.

Bollinger County has a large number of retired people and people on fixed incomes. Any increase in taxes would hurt them, said Mouser.

He said the county government's expenses are rising faster than its income. Some of the expenses involve repairs to the old courthouse.

"When I look down the road two to three years, I really don't know how we are going to make it financially," said Mouser.

Trentham said the county should seek state and federal grants to help fund projects.

"There are a lot of grants out there that are available to counties just like Bollinger County," he said.

But Mouser said the government red tape that accompanies many grants makes them more trouble than they are worth.

Mouser said he takes a conservative stance when it comes to the county budget. "I have kept it balanced all the time I have been in here."

Both Trentham and Mouser remain opposed to the idea of developing a recreational lake that would cover parts of Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties.

The lake would benefit Cape Girardeau County more than Bollinger County, they said.

Said Trentham, "I am against the lake until someone can show me that Bollinger County can profit big time from it."

Mouser said the added law enforcement costs associated with such a project would outweigh the benefits.

Elwood Mouser

Republican

hometown: Marble Hill

age: 71

Education: Graduated from Zalma High School.

Job history: Livestock farmer; previously worked in construction for 20 years. He owned and operated cable television companies for 13 years.

Previous political offices: Served on the Zalma Board of Education for 14 years. Elected presiding commissioner of Bollinger County in 1990 and re-elected in 1994.

Family: He and his wife, Virginia, have a son and three daughters.

Kenny Trentham

Democrat

hometown: Marble Hill

age: 43

Education: Graduated from Woodland High School, received a two-year degree from Oakland City University in Oakland City, Ind.

Job history: Self-employed as an insurance agent for the last 14 years. Previously, he worked with his father in the family-owned sand and gravel business.

Previous political office: None. This is his first run for county office.

Family: He and his wife, Cathy, have two sons.