Marvalene Pankey was the only opponent on the general election ballot to the incumbent county clerk (election authority, budget and fiscal responsiblity duties PLUS), Sheryl Swopes, who originally was appointed by the late Gov. Mel Carnahan and who was elected by a very, very small and questionable margin in 1998. The county normally votes Republican.

Although enough signatures probably could have been turned in for the Mo. Senate 28^th race a decision was made to concentrate on the Cedar County Clerk's race after Marvalene and Statesmanship Party were contacted by some concerned local voters. It was also obvious that Jim Mathewson thinks he has complete control of the election in Mo. Senate 28 (and intends to himself remain in the Mo. Senate representing Dist. 21 although he lives in the 28^th and was thus term limited early. Mega dollars and daily (sometimes double all on the same day) mailings by Scott made it obvious the Scott camp started the rumor that his opponent Boatright was Mathewson's choice. And with minimal effort coming out of the two Democrat candidates camps it was obvious Mathewson's choice, Johnson, would likely be crowned the nominee. Even if Jr. Blunt certified Statesmanship Party petitions for the 28^th the playing field obviously was going to be covered with considerably more special interest money than the job pays and the risk to Marvalene and campaign workers lives for challenging Mathewson's plan could have been very dangerous. The wise choice was to take the safer path and offer the citizens of Cedar County an opportunity to have a true public servant, fully qualified to serve as county clerk.