Kuensting wins Cole County public administrator race

Joe Kuensting
Joe Kuensting

Joe Kuensting will be charged with caring for the physical, mental and financial needs of about 250 clients on the Cole County public administrator's caseload starting January 2017.

The Republican candidate won the seat with a 64.4 percent majority in Tuesday's election over Democratic candidate Jean Knaebel Schwaller, who received 35.4 percent. Kuensting received 23,231 votes to Schwaller's 12,768 votes; 62 write-in votes were cast.

"This is a job I really felt that I could do," Kuensting said just before 10 p.m., after the final votes were counted.

Kuensting, who has been in the race since June 2015, said he was "honored and humbled" voters chose him.

The public administrator's race was an open seat after Marilyn Schmutzler, who has been in the position 17 years, announced her retirement. Schmutzler was appointed by then-Gov. Mel Carnahan in 1999 and was re-relected four times to four-year terms.

The public administrator is the guardian for those the court determines need assistance, whether it's an aging resident, a disabled person, the mentally ill, the developmentally disabled, as well as those who suffer from brain injury, dementia or Alzheimer's.

Kuensting has worked for the state of Missouri for about 30 years, primarily with the Department of Mental Health, where his responsibilities included generating revenue for individuals with mental illness and developmental disabilities.

"I have been able to see firsthand the needs of these individuals and network with other entities (such as federal and state government agencies and insurance companies) to develop solutions to help better their lives," Kuensting said.

Through that work, he also worked directly with public administrators and attorneys and with guardianships and estates.

"I congratulate him on a very good race," Schwaller said. "I wish the county well with its new public administrator. I'm very happy to see the large voter turnout in Cole County (and beyond); that bodes well for democracy in this country."

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