Cole County Western District Commissioner Kris Scheperle has filed to run for re-election.
Scheperle, a Republican, said in a Friday news release he believes he has delivered on core principles he ran on in 2008 and 2012.
"One of those principles is open government, and we are now streaming meetings for public access and involvement," Scheperle said. "I have also worked for better government through better cooperation of Cole County communities. On that principle, we have led and passed the effort to support our small communities through an $800,000 program to allow them to complete capital improvement projects."
In January 2018, the Cole County Commission announced cooperative project funding guidelines for the county's small communities to receive part of $800,000 in the county's half-cent capital improvement sales tax for "substantial improvements." There was $400,000 available in 2018 and $400,000 in 2019.
During the last eight years, Scheperle said, the County Commission has saved and/or generated $15.3 million of taxpayer money.
"I have served on our Pre-trial Release Committee since its inception in 2012," Scheperle said. "This program is funded by the county's general revenue fund and has helped decrease our jail population and our jail costs, saving $5.1 million in projected losses. It also allowed for us to house federal inmates and generate $7.3 million. Because of this program, we have added law enforcement officers and have been able to stabilize our jail costs."
Other areas where Scheperle said the county has seen savings while he's been on the commission is in health insurance costs.
"I worked with our local insurance company to control 8-10 percent yearly increases and become partially self-insured," Scheperle said. "To date, we have saved $2.9 million on employee health insurance costs. We have also expanded services at our health department, added deputies in the sheriff's office, are working toward state accreditation with our EMS service, fixed and upgraded county roads, and we're working with Jefferson City and all cities to improve our infrastructure."
Republicans Gary Bemboom and Harry Otto have also filed as candidates for Western District commissioner.
Other Cole County offices up for election in 2020 include Eastern District commissioner, sheriff, assessor, public administrator and treasurer.
There are also two circuit judge positions to be voted on and an election to fill the judicial position created for a second associate circuit court.
Filing for countywide offices in 2020 ends March 31. Filing takes place in the Cole County Clerk's Office, located on the second floor of the Courthouse Annex, 311 E. High St. in Jefferson City.
The primary election will be Aug. 4; the general election will be Nov. 3.