Ned Mitchell has a morbid-sounding full-time job. He audits bank accounts to ensure that funds for pre-paid funerals are solvent and follow state guidelines.

In his other life, the mayor of Sesser does not sit around and listen to chamber music. In fact, he lives in the fast lane, managing a small city and printing business in western Franklin County and immersing himself in state politics with the subtlety of a tornado siren.

"I am not one to sit by and not have an opinion," said Mitchell, a former state senator who has been mayor of Sesser for 29 years. "I am one who speaks my mind publicly about issues that I think are important."

From his well-established perch in rural Southern Illinois, Mitchell, 57, makes waves. The maverick did it again last month when he became the first elected Democrat in the state to support Edwin Eisendrath in the March primary against Gov. Blagojevich.

"I supported financially and worked hard for Blagojevich (in 2002)," Mitchell said. "He visited Sesser during the campaign. His main theme was to end business as usual, the culture of corruption and the pay-to-play politics that George Ryan had brought about.

"I am deeply disappointed at what has happened, both as a Democrat and as an American. I feel let down. Speaking as a Democrat, we had an opportunity to bring about real reform when Blagojevich was elected. Obviously, we have failed miserably."

Mitchell was so adamant about taking on the governor, he posted Eisendrath's decision to run on his own Web site before Eisendrath announced it himself.

"Eisendrath has set forth a pledge to do away with this type of activity in state government," Mitchell said. "I have met with Eisendrath in person. He follows up and does what he says he will do on the small things. This leads me to believe he will follow through on his word on larger issues."

Mitchell's bottom line: He's tired of being ignored.

"I have written Blagojevich several times on issues ranging from the election of Rend Lake Conservancy trustees to surcharges on municipal sewer plants," Mitchell said. "I have e-mailed, faxed and phoned. To this date, no one has responded from the governor's office. He and his staff are completely out of touch. They are too busy raising cash for the campaign.

"I also disagree with the governor on minors having an abortion without parental notification, gun control and some environmental issues that virtually destroy any chance of coal making a comeback."

Mitchell could talk for weeks about state politics. He served in the State Senate for 18 months after the resignation of Jim Rea in 1999. He was stunned by refusal of politicians to listen to ideas and by the amount of wild, unconscionable horse trading for votes. The Chicago influence, he said, makes it difficult for Southern Illinois to be heard.

"We are treated as second-class citizens in Southern Illinois," he said. "We should demand a change. We have great people in this area. We are taught early in life about respect and hard work. Most of us don't expect a government handout, but we do think we need an equal opportunity to succeed."

The mayor has been fighting most of his life for Sesser and Franklin County. He dreamed for decades of bringing industrial development, and hundreds of jobs, to Sesser. The town's location, 7 miles west of Interstate 57 across Rend Lake, is scenic and peaceful, but a tough sell to corporations.

"When I first became mayor, I had illusions of big industrial development," he said. "I actively chased several big factories to no avail. Being raised in a coal mining family, I had heard my dad say many times that coal mining would disappear someday in this area, and he predicted that with uncanny accuracy.

"While my dad saw the future was not with coal mining, I think most area elected officials and even miners thought that day would never come. I think we as a whole sat around and watched in disbelief as the coal industry stumbled and then completely faltered. We were not prepared in Franklin County for this to happen."

Like Mayor Bob Butler in Marion, voters keep returning Mitchell to office. They like his feistiness and his watchdog attitude.

"We have aldermen who have been in office almost as long as I have," Mitchell said. "We have stayed in office because, for the most part, people in Sesser see improvements, stability. We also have several other employees who have worked here for many years, and that speaks well of the city.

"My mother kiddingly would say the reason I have been here for so long is that no one else wants the job."

I would agree with the mayor's mother about his full-time job as funeral auditor. The part-time job as mayor and prophet makes for a perfect balance.

James Bennett is editor of The Southern Illinoisan. Contact him at james.bennett@thesouthern.com or (618)351-5033.