LETTER: BOLLINGER COUNTY DEMOCRAT COMMITTEE THUMBS ITS NOSE

To the editor:

On Nov. 21 members of the Bollinger County Democrat Central Committee effectively thumbed its collective nose at everyone when it voted not to recommend Judge Bill Hopkins to fill the vacancy as Bollinger County prosecuting attorney.

The committee endorsed an unknown lawyer from Cape Girardeau County whose qualifications and resume have yet to be verified. This choice overlooked the only eligible candidate under Missouri law, who is Judge Hopkins. The committee has, in effect, defied the governor, who clearly must abide by the law, and the current prosecutor, Paul Hahn (a Democrat), who clearly agreed with the statute and advised the committee the only qualified candidate was Hopkins.

The choice also defied all past, present and would-be Democrat officeholders who were present in support of Hopkins. These and other citizens openly expressed their support during the meeting. In spite of all this, the committee proceeded to interview ineligible candidates and then hastily voted in secret.

If the committee stands by the foolhardy and imprudent decision, then it truly embarrasses itself and turns its back on all its candidates and officeholders. Perhaps right-thinking members of the committee can persuade the others to consider the ramifications of this bad decision. If not, then this ineffective and destructive committee should resign at once.

SHARON HOPKINS

Marble Hill