The personal finances of a Christian County sheriff candidate are at the center of a very public controversy.

A group of citizens is questioning whether a 2005 bankruptcy makes Joey Kyle ineligible to hold the office.

Missouri law requires a sheriff to be bonded 15 days after they take office

The bond acts like insurance in case of a lawsuit but it's not clear whether bankruptcy would prevent bonding in every circumstance.

The unclear issue has some saying Kyle should drop out, while others say this is just sleazy politics.

Long time Christian County resident Wade Dunivent says, “It seems every time I turn around somebody says I've seen this. I've seen this."

It seems like more and more Christian County voters are seeing Republican candidate Kyle’s bankruptcy documents.

“I was trying to better my life for my family and myself.” Kyle said, “Before I could make an earnest effort Uncle Sam called."

Kyle says he's not offering excuses but an explanation for filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy back in 2005 for more than $465,000.

He says his security business went under while he was at war.

“My point is if he can't manage his own business with a smaller dollar amount." Dunivent said, "How he is going to run a sheriff's department."

Kyle says the bankruptcy has no bearing on his abilities.

“There're so many checks and balances.” Kyle said, “The county commission will have to approve my budget and make sure I adhere to it."

Dunivent admits he is a supporter of Independent candidate Ralph Phillips but says that's not why he's questioning Kyle's financial responsibility.

“This is my question which probably needs to go to the ethics commission or the county.” Dunivent said, “I wouldn't let someone run for office just to find out later whether they could or could not be bonded."

Kyle's debt may be black in white but the issue of bonding isn't.

Dunivent says if Kyle does get bonded it will not change his mind.

Dunivent says, “There are a lot of under the table ways to do things."

Kyle showed KSPR a faxed letter from a Springfield company that said the company would agree to a $5,000 bond.

The company asked not to be named for insurance purposes, saying they could be named once the bond was complete.

Kyle says, “I just found out yesterday the county will bond me so if that’s the case it’s a moot point."

KSPR called another local bond company for input on the issue.

The company spokesperson says bankruptcy could prevent someone from getting a bond for a half a million dollars or more.

The Christian County clerk says the sheriff's bond is well below that amount.

In a similar case in 2000, Carolyn Gross was elected to the Greene County Public Administrator but faced bonding issues.

Attorneys advised her to step down.

Governor Bob Holden appointed another person to the office.