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Bock not seeking re-election

Four years after winning his primary with less than one-third of the vote in a nine-way contest, Associate Commissioner Larry Bock said he won't seek re-election to the post he's held since 1992.

Bock, who first won election by unseating incumbent Leonard Sander, said that at age 69 he's ready for retirement. The prospect of another primary contest -- dairy equipment dealer Bill Hahs of Jackson said he'd told Bock he was running regardless of the incumbent's plans -- didn't prompt the decision, Bock said. "That had nothing to do with it," he said. "At my age, I want to play a little bit."

Along with Hahs, a member of the County Road and Bidge Advisory Board, former county auditor Weldon Macke is considering the race. Macke stepped down as auditor in 2002 after 34 years on the job. He, too, is a member of the road and bridge board.

Hahs, 56, is definitely running; Macke, 77, said he's leaning toward making the race and calculating whether the $61,162 annual salary will offset his loss of retirement income if he resumes office.

Both, like Bock, are Republicans. Bock represents District 1 on the county commission, which includes most of Cape Girardeau County outside the Cape Girar-deau city limits.

Bock has turned over operations of his farm to one of his seven children, and said he intends to spend a lot of time traveling.

The biggest change in county government over 16 years is its size, Bock said. "It has gotten so big," he said. "It has increased in size like crazy."

One of the main responsibilities for the District 1 commissioner is overseeing county roads. The sales tax for road improvements and law enforcement, approved by voters in 2006, will have a lasting effect on the county, Bock said. "That is one of the greatest things that have come along for many a year," he said.

The road and bridge board was created in response to criticism during the 2006 tax campaign that county road policies were applied unevenly, with funds for paving distributed unfairly. The advisory board made an in-depth review of policies and paving plans.

Sticking with the resulting plan will be important to rebuild confidence that the rules are being enforced fairly, Macke said. Although the board's plan to use chip-and-seal paving on 11 miles of road fell through, the tax revenue is being banked and a renewed push can be started early next year. Advertisements for bids on road work were delayed this year while the board wrote its plan in the spring.

"We needed this first year to kind of really get ourselves in position and to know the roads," Macke said.

The most important measure of the road plan's success will be a fair distribution of the money to improve roads in every section of the county, Hahs said.

One county road policy calls for all landowners to sign easements giving the county a 60-foot right-of-way along each road to be improved. A major complaint about past practices was that construction took place on roads that did not meet that standard.

"I want everybody to be treated fairly and equally," Hahs said. "If the roads are signed up 100 percent, that is when the road will be built. We are going to have some of those people who are not going to sign, but those are the ones that should wait."

Macke hasn't been idle since retiring from the auditor's job. Along with the road board, he's a member of the Senior Services Fund Advisory Board and the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission Board of Directors. His age is not a factor in his decision, Macke said.

"I'm healthy, and it has always been a thing I have loved from back in 1968 when I ran for auditor," he said.

His experience as auditor will give him insight into other aspects of county government that he would watch over as commissioner, Macke said.

Hahs owns Semo Ag and Dairy Service of Fruitland. He's been in business for himself for 17 years. He is originally from near Daisy. "I have been a businessman, a conservative businessman," Hahs said. "I will be conservative for the county."

The District 1 commission seat is one of seven county offices on the 2008 ballot. Other offices include the District 2 commission seat, assessor, sheriff, treasurer, coroner and public administrator.

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126