Mississippi County, MO elected officials: county commissioners, sheriff, school board and cities

Who holds every elected county, school board, city and special-district office in Mississippi County: 14 seats on 12 elected bodies. 7 seats were on the November 3, 2026 ballot; they update once the county certifies its results.

County Commission

Mississippi County Commission

OfficeWho holds it nowNext term
Associate Commissioner, District 1Mitch Pullen Republican source
Associate Commissioner, District 2Darrell Jones Republican source
Presiding CommissionerJames D. Conn Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet

County officers

OfficeWho holds it nowNext term
AssessorLisa Finley-Norton Republican source
Circuit ClerkChristina Branam Turner Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Collector of RevenueCyndi Hensley Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
CoronerTerry A. Parker Democratic source
County ClerkEmily K. Pullen Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County SurveyorVacant source
Prosecuting AttorneyClaire E. Poley Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
Public AdministratorMelissa Davis Republican source
Recorder of DeedsGeorge Bays Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
SheriffBritton Ferrell Republican source
TreasurerPaul Moore Republican sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet

How many local governments Mississippi County has

The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 22 local governments in Mississippi County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.

Kind of governmentCensus count (2022)Listed on this page
County government11
Cities, towns, villages and townships60
School districts (school boards)20
Special districts (elected boards)130

Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Government Units Listing (census.gov).

About these counts

The Census Bureau counts every independent local government once, in the county it assigns it to: the one it mostly serves or where it's based. A city or district that crosses county lines is counted in only one county, so it may be listed on this page but counted elsewhere, or the other way around. Many special districts, such as housing authorities, have appointed boards, and some places have more than one elected body, so the two columns measure different things. School systems run by a county, city or the state aren't counted as separate governments, though their boards may be listed here; in some states the Bureau counts community or state colleges as school districts. The counts are as of 2022.

Who lives in Mississippi County

11,902people
41.1median ageU.S.: 38.9
$48,160 household incomeU.S.: $80,734
19%below the U.S.: 12.5%
14.7%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%
$109,000median home valueU.S.: $332,700
2.7%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%
0.4%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%
6.1%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%
10.9%U.S.: 8.4%
46%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%
20%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%

Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 0.8% · White 70.7% · Black 19% · Asian 0.6% · Other or more than one race 8.9% (Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race; the other groups are non-Hispanic.)

Census Bureau, 2020–2024 5-year estimates (data.census.gov).

About these figures

The American Community Survey asks about 3.5 million households a year about who lives there, their work, income, schooling and housing. The 5-year estimates pool 2020–2024 answers so that every county and district has enough of them. They're estimates with a (larger for smaller places), and they're different from the once-a-decade census count. "Median" means half are above and half below. Household income is before taxes and includes everyone in the household. The unemployment share here is the survey's five-year average, so it differs from the monthly rate in the BLS jobs report. Race and Hispanic origin are as people describe themselves.

Health insurance means any coverage, private or public (such as Medicaid or Medicare), when people answered; the share is of everyone except people on active military duty and people living in institutions such as prisons and nursing homes. The housing shares are of renting households, and of homeowners with a mortgage, for whom the Census Bureau can compute them (households with no income, or renters who pay no cash rent, are left out). Rent here is gross rent, rent plus utilities; owner costs include the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and fees.

Jobs in Mississippi County

4.9%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 5.2%. Missouri: 3.3%.
197people unemployedSeptember 2026, preliminary.
3,804people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.
4,001in the September 2026, preliminary.
Unemployment rate, yearly average, Mississippi County 0.0%2.2%4.4%6.6%8.8% 20162018202020222024

Yearly average unemployment rate, 2016–2025.

Every month, last two years
MonthRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
September 2026 (preliminary)4.9%1973,8044,001
August 20266.2%2413,6713,912
July 20266.1%2353,5893,824
June 20265.8%2323,7393,971
May 20265.2%2023,7163,918
April 20265.1%2103,8924,102
March 20266.1%2453,7934,038
February 20266.1%2493,8084,057
January 20265.7%2243,6933,917
December 20255.0%1943,7003,894
November 20254.9%1853,6233,808
October 2025not collected (2025 federal shutdown)
September 20255.2%2033,7323,935
August 20256.6%2493,5393,788
July 20257.5%2903,5783,868
June 20257.0%2843,7864,070
May 20256.0%2323,6493,881
April 20255.4%2173,8344,051
March 20256.6%2683,8234,091
February 20257.0%2863,8184,104
January 20256.0%2443,7974,041
December 20245.6%2233,7493,972
November 20245.5%2123,6173,829
October 20245.3%2073,7223,929
Yearly averages
YearRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
2025 (11 months)6.1%2413,7163,957
20246.1%2453,7564,001
20235.0%1983,7593,957
20224.4%1763,7963,972
20215.8%2413,9454,186
20207.0%3054,0724,377
20195.1%2304,2444,474
20184.9%2304,4414,671
20176.4%3074,4974,804
20168.4%4144,5154,929

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, : BLS publishes county figures only that way, so they rise and fall with the seasons; compare a month with the same month a year earlier rather than with the month before. Missouri's figure above is on the same basis; seasonally adjusted, as in BLS's monthly state release, it was 3.6% in September 2026. The latest month is preliminary and is revised the next month, and BLS revises earlier years each spring. People are counted where they live. October 2025 wasn't collected during the 2025 federal government shutdown, so 2025's yearly average covers 11 months.

Crime reported in Mississippi County

387.6 per 100,0002025. Missouri: 417.8.
1,162.8 per 100,0002025. Missouri: 1,644.1.
3murders2025, 46 violent crimes in all.
Earlier years
YearViolentRatePropertyRate
202546387.61381,162.8
202447391.61471,224.8
202347401.61821,555.2
202260470.52642,070.3
202190702.41811,412.5
202050375.11401,050.2
201758422.72752,004.1
201657399.52511,759.3
By police agency (4)
AgencyYearViolentPropertyPeople served
Charleston Police Department202538744,412
Mississippi County Sheriff's Office20253363,710
East Prairie Police Department20245212,848
Bertrand Police Department2025015701

Crimes to the county's city and county police agencies (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, Return A), per 100,000 people they serve. Years with incomplete reporting are left out. Crime in Missouri · the U.S.

Police staffing

2.35 per 1,000 residents2023, 4 agencies serving 11,485 people.
27sworn officers2023, full-time, as of October 31.
20civilian staff2023, full-time.

2023 is the latest year every agency here sent the FBI its staff count.

Agencies counted (4), 2023
AgencyOfficersCiviliansPeople served
Mississippi County Sheriff's Office7103,782
Charleston Police Department1254,124
East Prairie Police Department752,875
Bertrand Police Department10704
Earlier years
YearOfficersPer 1,000CiviliansAgencies
2023272.35204
2022282.23204
2021282.23194
2017261.89155

Full-time employees of the county's city police departments and sheriff's office, as each reported them to the FBI (Uniform Crime Reporting, Law Enforcement Employees), per 1,000 people in the areas those agencies serve (the FBI's population figures). A year is shown only when every one of these agencies sent a count; a count under half or over double the agency's own counts in nearby years is treated as not sent. Towns policed under contract by another agency are counted through that agency. State police, campus and other agencies aren't included. Sheriffs' offices often also run the county jail and courthouse security, so their staff counts include those jobs.

Quick answers

Who is the Mississippi County Assessor?
Lisa Finley-Norton (Republican) is the Assessor of Mississippi County, Missouri.
Who is the Mississippi County Circuit Clerk?
Christina Branam Turner (Republican) is the Circuit Clerk of Mississippi County, Missouri. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Mississippi County Collector of Revenue?
Cyndi Hensley (Republican) is the Collector of Revenue of Mississippi County, Missouri. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Mississippi County Coroner?
Terry A. Parker (Democratic) is the Coroner of Mississippi County, Missouri.
Who is the Mississippi County County Clerk?
Emily K. Pullen (Republican) is the County Clerk of Mississippi County, Missouri. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Mississippi County County Surveyor?
The office of Mississippi County County Surveyor is vacant.
Who is the Mississippi County Prosecuting Attorney?
Claire E. Poley (Republican) is the Prosecuting Attorney of Mississippi County, Missouri. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Mississippi County Public Administrator?
Melissa Davis (Republican) is the Public Administrator of Mississippi County, Missouri.
Who is the Mississippi County Recorder of Deeds?
George Bays (Republican) is the Recorder of Deeds of Mississippi County, Missouri. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Mississippi County Sheriff?
Britton Ferrell (Republican) is the Sheriff of Mississippi County, Missouri.
Who is the Mississippi County Treasurer?
Paul Moore (Republican) is the Treasurer of Mississippi County, Missouri. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who are the Mississippi County commissioners?
Mitch Pullen (Associate Commissioner, District 1); Darrell Jones (Associate Commissioner, District 2); James D. Conn (Presiding Commissioner).
What is the population of Mississippi County?
About 11,902 people, with a median age of 41.1; the median household income is $48,160 and 19% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
What is the unemployment rate in Mississippi County?
4.9% in September 2026 (preliminary): 197 people unemployed in a labor force of 4,001, against 5.2% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
How many local governments are there in Mississippi County?
22 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 6 municipal, 2 school district and 13 special district governments.

Officeholders as of November 6, 2026, from the Missouri Secretary of State's Official Manual (Blue Book) 2025–2026; each name links to its source. Officials change between elections (appointments, resignations), and the body's own website is the authority. Party is shown only for offices elected on a partisan ballot.

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