July 08, 2008 10:13 pm
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By Susan Redden
sredden@joplinglobe.com
CARTHAGE, Mo. — The atmosphere may be a little uncomfortable in the Jasper County Commission office after John Bartosh, presiding commissioner, on Tuesday endorsed Craig Putnam for the post of Eastern District associate commissioner.
Putnam is running against Jim Honey, the two-term incumbent, and challenger Blane Mitchell, both of Carthage, for the GOP nomination in the August primary.
Bartosh was joined in the endorsement by Sheriff Archie Dunn. The announcement was made on the north side of the county courthouse. It was the same location where Dunn, two years ago, joined in an announcement to back Bartosh’s bid for the presiding commissioner post then held by Chuck Surface.
Putnam served as treasurer for Bartosh’s campaign committee, and held the same post earlier for Dunn’s election and for the committee that proposed the law enforcement sales tax that primarily benefits Dunn’s department. He still is treasurer of Dunn’s campaign for re-election, based on a filing of “limited activity” with the Missouri Ethics Commission. Dunn is unopposed on both the August primary and November general election ballots.
Putnam said he sought the endorsements and appreciated them “because they (Dunn and Bartosh) are two very professional people.”
“I truly believe I’m getting their support because they believe I’ll do what is fair and equitable for everyone concerned,” he said.
Despite their endorsement, he said he did not expect the three would agree on every issue.
“The commission can pass things with two votes, but generally, they try to make it unanimous,” he said. “We’ll not always agree, but I’ll be up front and look them in the eye when I disagree.”
Bartosh said he is supporting Putnam for the post “because he’s got an accounting background and he’s very straight-forward; you know exactly where he stands.”
Putnam supported him in his election campaign, Bartosh added.
“I’m supporting him, but I don’t want to run anyone else down,” he said, referring to Honey and Mitchell.
“When you get in a position like this, people realize it’s political,” Bartosh said. “People have campaigned against me, and I still work with them.”
Dunn said Putnam was instrumental in raising money that allowed the law-enforcement-tax proposal to be placed on the ballot.
“I’ve worked with him on a lot of different things,” the sheriff said. “As a voter, I think he will be an asset to the county.”
Dunn said the endorsement should have “no impact” on his dealings with the commission.
“I’ll work with anyone who’s in the office,” he said.
Honey was out of the courthouse, at a meeting at the Joplin Chamber of Commerce, when the endorsement was announced.
“I’ve known for months that it was probably going to happen,” Honey said. “I’ll just do my job and pretend it’s business as usual, even though it’s not. It does make it kind of tough, though.”
Mitchell, the third candidate, said he was not surprised by the endorsement.
“But an endorsement, even by another county official, doesn’t qualify you for anything,” he said. “It’s your experience that qualifies you, and the voters will decide that on Aug. 5.”
Unopposed
The Western District associate commission post also is up for election this year. Darieus Adams, the incumbent, of Joplin, is running without opposition.
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