CANDIDATES PLAN TO TACKLE METH

Taney County Prosecuting Attorney, Challenger Differ In Their Approaches

FORSYTH - The two-way race for prosecuting attorney pits incumbent Rodney
Daniels against political newcomer Eric Eighmy for a four-year term with a
salary that will jump from $55,000 a year to $96,000.

The prosecutor's salary and other court positions including judges are set
by state statutes. The pay increase reflects Taney County's elevation last
year to first-class status. No Democrat filed for the position.

One of the most pressing problems faced by the prosecutor's office - with a
current staff of 16 - is the proliferation of methamphetamine production
and use in Taney County. In one recent month, Daniels filed more than 25
meth-related charges, he says. About two months ago, nine people were
sentenced on meth charges in eight days.

"I tell people that if you get involved in the meth lifestyle and don't get
yourself straightened out, most likely you're going to end up in prison or
dead," Daniels says.

Eighmy (pronounced "Amy") says that as prosecutor he would organize a
methamphetamine task force. It would comprise representatives from each
county law enforcement agency whose "sole job is the eradication and
apprehension of meth cooks."

"It's something that's not been tried, and more needs to be done," Eighmy says.

Eighmy sees the drug problem from his vantage as prosecuting attorney for
Branson, Merriam Woods and Reeds Spring. Eighmy also serves as a special
prosecutor when needed in Taney County and Rockaway Beach. He is the
Forsyth municipal court judge. He was interim attorney for Hollister. He
represents the public administrator's office and volunteers as guardian for
infants in foster care.

Daniels, who lives in Ridgedale, says a task force is not necessary. He
says he already has a good working relationship with law enforcement agents
throughout the county.

He also works with the Combined Ozarks Multi-jurisdictional Enforcement
Team and has encouraged its members to devote more time to Taney County, he
says.

Daniels says he was instrumental in setting up Taney County's drug court
program as a way to help people get treatment for their addictions. He says
the program is a plus.

Still, "there are people I don't feel belong in drug court because of the
seriousness of their offense," Daniels says.

Eighmy, 34, of Branson, grew up on a farm near Kansas City. He came to the
area to work for attorney Marvin Motley in 1994.

Eighmy said he will speed the justice process by preparing more cases for
trial. Too often, he said, cases "look good on paper, but then you get to
trial and find the witnesses not quite as convincing as you thought." The
key is not filing bad cases in the first place, he says.

Daniels says being an effective prosecutor takes experience and conviction.
Daniels has worked as an attorney for 16 years. He's been a full-time
prosecuting attorney for six years including two as prosecutor for the city
of Springfield.

"If you want to be a tough-nosed prosecutor, you can catch some flak
because it can wrinkle some feathers with defense attorneys," Daniels says.