Your Opinion: Negatives remembered

Dear Editor:

There are a few negatives that were not reported in your Dec. 18 article concerning Marc Ellinger's eight years as Cole County presiding commissioner. He will be remembered for poor judgment, special interest and trying to take advantage of citizens.

His pride and joy should be named the Ellinger Money Sponge Jail because it soaks up money like a sponge soaks up water. The half being used is usually less than half full of Cole County prisoners. The previous jail was used about 100 years. It is likely that the current half of the jail being used will be adequate for 100 years, but taxpayers will have to pay $20 million for the unused part of the jail. Ellinger also arranged the sales tax to build the jail so the building could not be used for anything else. The commission is looking for more space. A little common sense would have provided for the unused jail space to be used for other purposes or not built at all.

He said, "We've developed a much more community driven commission ...". His community is the special interest. The Chamber of Commerce gets $300,000 each year for economic development with nothing to show for it. He worked with Realtors to try to force zoning on Cole County residents that they did not want or need. Ellinger supported the Transformation tax for economic development. This attempt to put tax money under control of the Chamber was defeated by 20 percent. Ellinger supported Brian Strumpe for circuit judge because the current judge had put aside one of Rex Sinquefield's attempts to buy his way into running Missouri. Ellinger is Sinquefield's errand boy for all of his outrageous attempts to make Missouri a haven for rich people.

Ellinger has added unnecessary employees to Cole County payroll. Examples are a lawyer dedicated to commission work being paid $70,000 which is more than assistant prosecuting attorneys receive and a purchasing agent position for Commissioner Hoelscher's cousin. There is now a nuisance in the County Health Department responsible for inspecting grass and nothing related to health. He also added a sales tax to purchase at the Capital Mall that goes to the owners of the mall.

I really wish Ellinger had run again so I could get the satisfaction of voting against him and seeing him defeated.