Coroner election approaches for Southwest Missouri counties

SOUTHWEST MISSOURI - As the election for county coroner approaches, residents in Jasper, McDonald, Vernon, and Newton counties are learning more about the demanding nature of the role. Interim Jasper County Coroner James Harrison emphasizes that the position involves far more than simply transferring bodies.

"And this job is a 24-hour job," Harrison said. "So I can, you know, have something at 8:00 in the morning, have something at noon, you know, work a homicide at 10:00 at night or, you know, midnight, 3:00 in the morning. The phones do not shut off."

Residents in these counties will vote for their next county coroner, who will serve a four-year term. The races in Vernon and McDonald counties are uncontested, while Jasper and Newton counties each have two candidates vying for the position.

The qualifications for the role of county coroner are relatively straightforward. The candidate must be 21 years or older and reside within the county. According to the CDC, medical training is not a requirement for the position, a point that Harrison finds concerning.

"I think you should have some type of experience," Harrison said. "I mean, everyone's a hard-working individual, I'm sure. But the people that come out and want to be the coroner, there are so many things that you have to do. I mean, we could list everything, but we'll be here for a while."

Unlike county coroners, county medical examiners, who are appointed rather than elected, must be licensed physicians approved by the State Board of Healing Arts. This distinction highlights the differing levels of medical expertise required for the two positions.

As the election date approaches, voters will need to consider the responsibilities and qualifications of the candidates to ensure they select the best person for this critical role in their community.

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