Perry County Coroner candidate: Jim W. Martin

Name Jim W. Martin

Age 68

Place of birth Perry County, Missouri

Spouse, children's names

Dorothy, retired office supply store owner

Robyn, who resides in Jackson and is employed at Layton & Southard Attnys

Matt, who resides with his wife and two children in Tacoma, Washington and is E-7 career military specializing in military intelligence.

Occupation Retired educator & advocate, specializing in severe disabilities

Employer Retired, State of Missouri, current Perry County

Businesses owned, all or part n/a

Previous offices held or sought

Outreach Advocate for Southeast Missouri with Missouri Protection & Advocacy Services, GED Instructor for Perry County, Mo., Young Adult and Intermediate Age Instructor for students with severe disabilities with the Missouri Schools for students with Severe Disabilities, Incumbent Perry County Coroner, seeking election

What, if anything, would you do to restore public trust in the coroner's office as a result of the felony financial exploitation conviction of former coroner Herbert Miller?

Continue to exhibit our commitment, service & integrity to the people of Perry County as we have in establishing relationships with law enforcement, other coroners, medical examiners and pathologists statewide, working with county commissioners, PCMH, county health dept., school system, community counseling, etc. to ensure we have appropriate equipment, resources & more importantly actively and aggressively lead the way in addressing the epidemic of suicides and drug related deaths afflicting us as a county.

What attributes do you bring to the job of coroner?

Through multiple decades of service as advocate, teacher and now coroner, member & past president of numerous civic organizations and boards, past president of St. Vincent Parish Council and active and committed member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, I've exhibited a tenacious focus on what we as a community and a region can achieve, if only we will it, to make this a better, safer, more joy filled place to live.