Two Board Candidates Compete for Seat in a Better Fiscal Environment
Perry County Democrats hope Ted Cunningham's name recognition as an employee of Consolidation Coal Co. for 30 years, now agent for Modern Woodmen of America insurance group and local play-by-play sports broadcaster on WDQN radio will make a difference when voters go to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 6.
Incumbent Republican Perry County Board of Commissioners chairman Robert "Bobby" Kelly wants voters to remember how the county has turned the corner on its decade-old fiscal crisis. He says the county is balancing its budgets, looking for value at every turn, has identified a new high quality county highway engineer after voting not to reappoint Doug Bishop, and hopes to regain some economic growth from a re-emerging local coal industry that struggles in the face of a shift to clean energy.
For Perry County, coal is still all-important.
The challenge of any county board is to be proactive rather than reactive.
Both men can point to their decency and having the county's best interest at heart. It gets down to Republican vs. Democrat and if that matters in a blended political climate.
Kelly heads a substantial timber company called Tree-O-Lumber, his father's company that dates back to the 1940s. When Kelly's father died in 1984 it was easier for the two sons to continue the company and generate an income rather than sell off the assets. That program worked. Kelly points to relationship building with Knight Hawk Coal Co., Peabody Energy and Pittsburg Energy. His company cleared large tracts of timber for Knight Hawk Coal so the company could make a transition from one mining area to another without short term layoffs of employees.
Kelly ran against Democrat board member Dan Wildermuth in 1998 and says after winning a seat on the board has been able to "pull everyone together."
To a large degree, that's true.
Fellow Republican Sam Robb worked to update county health and liability coverages at a savings. The board questioned the highway department's tapping into a full $1 million cash reserve that dropped to $600,000, then hired Brian Otten as the county's new highway engineer. Most of Otten's time has since been spent on fiscal responsibility as the unit road district moves forward.
Because of the work of fellow republican John Batteau in concert with the offices of democrat Kevin Kern and treasurer Bill Taylor, the county is back on track on a real estate tax bill schedule that gets money to the county, municipal tax districts and to the schools in a timely manner so they do not have large blocks of borrowing like before.
Individual office budgets are largely the work of those offices.
"I'd rather have the solutions," says Kelly, than the window dressing. He says the county "is making strides."
He says, "I'm looking at everything I can do for the county. It doesn't matter if you live in Du Quoin or in Pinckneyville." He points to a set of negotiations that could, in time, make a difference n Perry County's economy but says it is far too early to talk about it.
Kelly's current challenge is finding a solution for the consolidation of educational service regions that gives Perry County educators access to teaching certificate, special needs and district real estate and state statute issues. Perry and Jackson counties have always had joint representation. The consolidation will include one or more counties to the south.
At the outset, Cunningham says be believes in term limits and would be a one-term commissioner who will contribute part of his first year's salary to the Perry County Health Department because of the assistance they gave his family during his daughter's ordeal with leukemia.
The loss of Ted and wife Cathy's daughter was heartbreaking, but he is not asking for a sympathy vote. He just wants to say thank you to the department for its help. He also ecourages parents to spend more time with their children and be involved.
"I've got six years to do the best job that I can," he said.
"I don't plan to take health care coverage or an IMRF pension," he said.
In a reflective note, he longs for the day when elected officials were statesmen and says it is a disgrace that Congress is so polarized. A five term Pinckneyville High School board member, Cunningham says quality education at the local level is the only hope we have of sustaining the future of our young people.
Cunningham said the county board needs to help small business at every turn. He said because of venues like the Du Quoin State Fair, the American Thresherman's Show and the Heritage Museum, tourism is an important part of the area's economy.
He said good government is important. "Political conventions are as important as the World Series," he said.
The Democrat said, "I am a conservative when it comes to somebody else's money." He adds, "I want to see new doors open for mining and agriculture."
Cunningham praised the work of all county officeholders for the fiscal responsibility the county is showing. "I have a legitimate interest in making the county better."