Talk Show Host vs. Former County Commissioner for Hospital Board

BEAT BYTE (January 22, 2008) -- It will be former Boone County presiding commissioner Keith Schnarre against KFRU 1400 radio talk show host Fred Parry for a five-year seat on the Boone County Hospital board, the Columbia Missourian has reported.

Dogged by criticisms of an abrasive management style during his four year term on the county commission, Schnarre was defeated last year for a second term as presiding commissioner by Democrat Ken Pearson. A Centralia farmer, Schnarre told the Missourian he wants to add a voice for the large percentage of Boone Hospital patients come from rural areas.

Named 2006 Outstanding Citizen by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Parry founded Inside Columbia magazine and served as a long-time Columbia Housing Authority board member.

Parry won a narrow victory for the hospital trustee seat in 2003 during a heated and costly campaign that included an allegation of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) violations from his opponent, Faith Phillips. Phillips alleged that Parry had used his on-air position to advance his campaign, effectively violating a so-called "equal time" provision that is rarely enforced.

During his term, Parry was lauded for his work on the renegotiation of a hospital management contract with BJC Corporation.