HERMANN – Political newcomer Mark Mundwiller is finding out how difficult it can be to take on an incumbent officeholder, especially the top official of a county government. Mundwiller, a recently retired member of the St. Louis Carpenter’s Union and local cattle rancher, is taking on first-term Presiding Commissioner Tim Schulte for the Republican Party nomination.

The winner of next Tuesday’s primary elections vote will be the presumptive winner of the office because there is no Democrat or Independent challenger in the Nov. 3 general elections. That’s true for the lone candidates for the half-dozen other county government offices to be filled in this year’s elections and is often the case in Gasconade County, which leans heavily Republican.

At a candidate forum on July 21 hosted by the Hermann Branch of Scenic Regional Library District, it was evident through their answers to prepared questions that Mundwiller and Schulte, both Hermann-area residents, are in agreement on issues more than they differ. Part of that, as Mundwiller mentioned during the hour-long event, is that as a newcomer he simply isn’t aware of the procedures of county government operations.

That’s the position Schulte was in four years ago as he was seeking to succeed retiring Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel, R-Hermann. Much of his first year as presiding commissioner involved on-the-job training, learning the ins and outs of county government from veteran officeholders throughout the courthouse and leaning heavily on his fellow veteran commissioners Jim Holland of Hermann and Jerry Lairmore of Owensville. Lairmore was defeated in the 2024 GOP primary by Ron Hardecke of Owensville.

In opening statements at the candidate forum, Schulte emphasized the solid financial position the county is in.

“We’ve kept the county on budget, or under budget,” he said, referring to providing various services to county residents. That solid foundation is thanks in large measure to the performance of the county’s various sales taxes. The half-cent General Fund Sales Tax has performed well, reaching new levels in consecutive years for the past half-dozen years – albeit a performance resulting from an ongoing high rate of inflation nationally the past several years.

There’s also the Use Tax that was championed by Lairmore and approved by voters in 2021. A sales tax applied to purchases made from out-of-state vendors sparked by the large amount of purchases made online during the coronavirus pandemic, the Use Tax has become a key source of revenue for county government, strongly outperforming expectations of county officials when it was adopted by voters. A portion of that tax also helps fund the county’s Enhanced-911 Program.

In 2022, voters approved a half-cent sales tax for county and municipal law enforcement. While a county tax, the money generated is split 75-25 between the county and five of the county’s six municipalities, allocated according to population.

Mundwiller opened by telling the crowd of about 50-60 residents – attending from both ends of the county – that he’s “ready to be your full-time commissioner.” While most county commissioners have outside jobs – especially commissioners in 3rd-Class counties such as Gasconade County – the administration of county government has become a full-time effort with meetings outside the courthouse, speaking engagements, membership on a variety of local and regional boards and commissions and so forth. And then there are the phone calls, day and night, from residents with questions or complaints and occasionally a compliment.

The first of a dozen questions for the candidates focused on what they feel is the top priority for county government. Schulte led off by saying the foremost concern is “Maintaining what we’ve got – roads, bridges, grounds and employees.” He cited the work of the county road department crews in repeatedly repairing storm-damaged roads during the past three months. He praised the work of the department employees and co-supervisors for their willingness to go out on weekends and after regular hours to clean up storm damage.

“I agree with Tim,” said Mundwiller in response to the question. He noted that road department workers should be paid more for keeping the county’s nearly-500-mile system of roads in good shape. “We need to open up the coffers a little bit and take care of the people who take care of us,” he said.

As far as a clear difference in their positions, the only one that has emerged deals with the issue of regional jails. Schulte is opposed to regional jails; Mundwiller supports them.

“Absolutely I support them,” Mundwiller said, giving the first answer. He said Gasconade County needs a jail of its own to avoid housing inmates in adjoining counties. “We have prisoners in four different counties,” he said.

That means Gasconade County is responsible for paying the per-day cost of housing those inmates awaiting trial. While the state reimburses counties for the costs, it covers only a portion of the inmate housing expense.

“It’s way better to oursource,” countered Schulte in responding to the question, arguing that it would cost county taxpayers more to operate a jail compared with paying a per-day housing expense.

Indeed, Schulte added, there has been a discussion recently about a regional jail. We have met with Maries and Osage counties about a regional jail,” the presiding commissioner said, noting that the counties quickly realized how expensive such a venture would be, suggesting it could cost as much as $30 million.

“No way do we need a (regional) jail,” he said.

After the forum, Mundwiller questioned the basis for Schulte’s estimate of $30 million for a regional jail.

Schulte has been able to assemble a list of accomplishments during his first term. From better pay for county employees to an overhaul of oversight of the road department that includes having co-supervisors rather than a single manager. So far, that seems to have turned out well. There’s also the recent commission action to split the Circuit Clerk and Recorder of Deeds Office into separate departments. Voters in November (actually, in the Aug. 4 election next week) will be electing the county’s first recorder of deeds. The move clearly separates what is a state government function (the Circuit Clerk’s Office) and what is a county government service (Recorder of Deeds Office).

Both candidates have a background in the construction trade and that brings in an issue on which Mundwiller has taken a position in the closing days of the campaign: An expanded parking lot at the historic courthouse.

Court-session days especially are taxing for the limited number of parking spaces, many of which are taken by courthouse employees. Last Thursday provided the latest evidence of the need for more parking spaces. A relatively minor Division 4 case involved a jury trial that had prospective jurors arriving before 7 a.m. to get a parking spot near the courthouse. Latecomers had to settle for a parking space on 1st Street (Highway 100) at the base of the courthouse grounds, which meant a steep uphill walk to the courthouse.

Howe Company engineers have submitted plans for expanded parking areas that would include additional spaces for disabled drivers. There are a couple options the county commission is considering regarding the configuration of the parking areas. The project carries an estimated price tag of up to $1.1 million. It is that potential cost that Mundwiller is focusing on. He feels the number of additional spaces -— and additional work needed to the courthouse grounds that would be associated with the extra spaces  — might not justify such a cost.

There is no timeframe for the commission to select an option for Howe Company to pursue in drafting a final plan. The county already has invested about $75,000 in the effort – including the cost of aerial mapping and preliminary engineering design work. Another $30,000 of work would be done by the engineers to come up with a final set of drawings.

Back at the candidate forum, Mundwiller told the crowd that he’s running essentially to repay a debt.

“Gasconade County has been pretty good to my family,” he said. “I just felt it was time for somebody in my family to give back to the county.”

Schulte had the last word at the event.

“I’m proud of the progress we’ve made in Gasconade County,” he said. “I believe Gasconade County is stronger today than when I took office.”.

Steve Campbell, executive director of Scenic Regional Library District, opened the forum and closed it with a reminder to the crowd of a similar forum set for last night at the Owensville branch featuring the State Rep. Bruce Sassmann and challenger John Grady for the GOP nomination in the Missouri House of Representatives 61st District, which includes all of Gasconade County.