2 more pick up petitions for Cape Girardeau mayor; filing closes Tuesday

There are potentially two more candidates for mayor of Cape Girardeau, setting up a likely February primary to pick two candidates to meet in the April general election.

Retired businessman Harry Rediger, a longtime fixture on the Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission and a name well known among civic leaders, said Friday that he is gathering signatures on a nominating petition and will announce a final decision Monday.

And Dustin Adams, a banker, has also picked up petitions. He could not be reached for comment on his plans.

Filing for city offices ends at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

If either files, they will join businessman Walter White and former council member Matt Hopkins in the race to replace Mayor Jay Knudtson, who must leave office after eight years due to term limits.

Rediger, who must step down from the Planning and Zoning Commission next year, said he wants to be mayor to guide the next sales tax election for road building to success and to push implementation of the city's Comprehensive Plan and DREAM Initiative Master Plan.

Rediger has been involved with drafting street construction plans since the first proposal in 1995. He is chairman of the Transportation Subcommittee that has been drafting a plan to put before voters in August.

"I just don't feel like I am quite ready to give that up," Rediger said. "That's why I went to pick up the petition and kind of get going."

Under the Cape Girardeau city charter, the mayor and council members are limited to two terms. In the upcoming elections, along with Knudtson, term limits will force two other council members, Charlie Herbst from Ward 1 and Marcia Ritter from Ward 6, to give up their seats.

To gain a spot on the ballot, each candidate must present a nominating petition with signatures from 50 registered voters. For mayor, the signatures may be from any voter living within the city. For the ward contests, the signatures must come from people who live in the ward.

In each ward and in the city as a whole, if more than two candidates file for an office the city conducts a primary election. For 2010, the primary will be Feb. 2 and the general election will be April 6. The election is nonpartisan.

Based on the filings so far, including people who have picked up petitions but not returned them, it appears that there will be a primary in southeast Cape Girardeau's Ward 2 along with the mayoral race. In Ward 2, which runs from North Street south along Pacific Street and Henderson Avenue before widening to include areas east of West End Boulevard, medical technician Don Howard and advertising saleswoman Meg Davis filed Thursday. Stafford Moore filed Friday, and he could not be reached for comment.

Former city Historic Preservation Commission member Jim Blakemore said Friday he is gathering signatures for a Ward 2 bid. Blakemore said his candidacy will stress his knowledge of downtown, historic preservation and implementation of the DREAM Initiative. Ward 2 includes all the areas targeted by the DREAM Initiative.

"I will bring a willingness to want to help serve and keep what we have got so far," he said. "As time goes by, there is always improvements to things, and I want to make Cape work better for its citizens." In Ward 1, incumbent John Voss has filed and tax accountant Teresa Robinson has picked up a petition. Robinson could not be reached Friday about her intentions.

In Ward 6, Republican Party activist and Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education member Kathy Swan filed Nov. 2 and no other candidates are actively seeking signatures. Brian Weiss, owner of Little Caesars Pizza, picked up a petition, but he said he will not run.

rkeller@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO

Council elections

Filing for mayor of Cape Girardeau and three Cape Girardeau City Council seats closes at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Here's how to file and who has already filed for the 2010 elections:Filing

* Election dates: Primary Feb. 2; general election April 6.

* Qualifications, city council: 21 years old, resident of city for two years, resident of ward for 90 days by Oct. 20.

* Qualifications, mayor: 21 years old, resident of city for four years by April 6.

* Filing requirements: Signatures from 50 registered voters on nominating petitions.

* Deadline: 5 p.m. Tuesday.

* Contact: Gayle Conrad, city clerk, 339-6320

Offices available

* Mayor: Jay Knudtson must leave office because of term limits. Businessman Walter White and former council member Matt Hopkins have filed; retired businessman Harry Rediger and banker Dustin Adams have picked up petitions.

* Ward 1: Incumbent John Voss has filed for re-election. Tax accountant Teresa Robinson has picked up petitions.

* Ward 2: Incumbent Charlie Herbst must leave office because of term limits. Medical technician Don Howard, radio advertising saleswoman Meg Davis and Stafford Moore have filed. Retiree Jim Blakemore is gathering signatures.

* Ward 6: Incumbent Marcia Ritter must leave office because of term limits. Business owner Kathy Swan has filed. No other candidates are actively preparing to run.