WRITE-IN VOTE PROVIDES AMUSING CHOICE FOR SHERIFF

JACKSON -- Cape Girardeau County Interim Sheriff Leonard Hines made it clear when Norman Copeland announced his retirement earlier this summer, that he had no intention of running for the job.

But now, thanks to a single write-in vote he received in Tuesday's primary election, Hines could have the authority to nominate himself, or someone else, to run on the Libertarian ticket for sheriff.

Hines finds the whole situation somewhat amusing, and admitted some people had encouraged him to nominate himself and run in the Nov. 8 general election.

Hines termed the opportunity to run or choose someone to run for sheriff "an interesting thought." But the new sheriff made it clear he still has no intention of running or nominating someone on the Libertarian ticket.

That could be because the Libertarian Party includes the call to decriminalize drug crimes -- not a notion that most sheriffs would embrace.

Hines wants everyone understands he does not subscribe to the extreme Libertarian views. He has always been active in the Republican Party.

"I appreciate all the citizens who have contacted me, Democrats and Republicans, about running. Needless to say, Libertarian views and mine differ significantly. I don't feel in my position as interim sheriff it would be fair to draw a pay check and politick while running for sheriff, especially when I am not the duly-elected sheriff," said Hines.

State election laws prohibit an independent candidate from running for the remaining two years of Copeland's term. Statutes give only the party central committees the authority to nominate candidates for the vacancy.

But because the Libertarian Party is recognized as an official political party in Missouri, and because Hines received a single write-in vote Tuesday as a Libertarian committeeman in Ward 13, he may very well be the county central committee of that party.

Patty Schlosser, who works in the county clerk's office, said that when Copeland's resignation took effect Monday, she notified the Democratic and Republican county chairmen as required by law. Since there was no Libertarian Party chairman in the county, she notified Bob Schmedake in Manchester, who is one of the state party officials.

Schlosser also sent Schmedake a letter advising him that Hines had been elected a committeeman as a write-in.

"We consider him duly elected," said Schlosser.

Hines will be advised officially by mail, and if he accepts, would receive a certificate that verifies his election as committeeman.

Thursday night, the Democratic committee nominated Benny Hinton, a 29-year highway patrol veteran, and Republicans nominated John Jordan, who is a lieutenant in charge of investigations for the county sheriff's department.

The deadline to pick candidates is Aug. 16.