WILSON NAMES MIKE HURST CAPE COUNTY CORONER

JACKSON, Mo. -- Missouri Gov. Roger Wilson appointed Mike Hurst as Cape Girardeau County coroner Thursday to fill the vacancy created by the death of longtime coroner John Carpenter.

The Cape Girardeau Democrat, who lost his race for public administrator in November, will serve a four-year term ending in 2004.

The Cape Girardeau County Democratic Central Committee recommended the governor appoint Hurst to fill the vacancy.

Hurst, who was sworn in Thursday afternoon at the Cape Girardeau County Administrative Building in Jackson, said he plans initially to operate the coroner's office from his home.

"I don't want to keep it there forever," Hurst said. He has talked with the county commission about possible office space.

Hurst and the county commission said the old coroner records need to be better organized.

"We need to see what we've got," said Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones, who suggested that the records could be sorted at the county's new archives center.

Hurst hopes to eventually computerize all the records.

"I would like to minimize the paper," he said.

Hurst has worked in law enforcement in Cape Girardeau County for 17 years. He plans to keep his current job with the Southeast Missouri State University Department of Public Safety while also handling the duties of coroner.