2 people officially file to run for Cape city offices

Two people filed Tuesday as official candidates for Cape Girardeau City Council, the first day completed petitions could be submitted to city hall for the April 8 election, and others joined a growing list of potential candidates seeking needed signatures from residents of their respective wards.

City clerk Gayle Conrad said at midday Tuesday that Joseph Uzoaru had filed as a candidate in Ward 1 and incumbent Councilman Wayne Bowen filed for re-election in Ward 6.

Uzoaru, 33, was raised in Cape Girardeau and runs Athena Property Group, which manages about 170 rental properties mostly near Southeast Missouri State University. He also is vice president and co-founder of the Cape Area Landlord Association, a local group that aided the city in establishing a rental unit inspection program in 2012.

Another potential candidate for Ward 1 is Teresa Robinson, who picked up a petition. She ran for the Ward 1 seat in 2010 but lost to John Voss by 35 votes. Voss will be term-limited in April. Contact information for Robinson was not available from city hall Tuesday.

Five people so far have picked up petitions to attempt a run in Ward 2, which is one more than showed interest last week. Seth Keith is the latest person to obtain a petition. He joins Andrew Bard, Rocky Everett, Don Howard and Gelanie Lockhart as potential candidates.

On Tuesday, Uzoaru said his interest in running for the Ward 1 seat partly stems from the good experience he had working with the city on the rental inspection program.

"I think some exciting things are happening right now in the city where the council is being more responsive to the public," he said. "It used to be that in the past the city was rather passive when it came to some issues."

Uzoaru said he sees that more-responsive approach in several areas, but especially in nuisance abatement, which the city is working to improve.

He also advocated for using casino revenue for capital improvements only, which the city is doing.

"It's important to me that the city not spend that money on operating expenses, that way they will never have to go to taxpayers if something happens to the casino," Uzoaru said.

He said he believes a new police station is needed, and he wants to see a way one could be "funded responsibly."

Keith, 36, who wants to file to run in Ward 2, on Tuesday said he is a self-employed massage therapist who is taking the approach that "improving health and life in the community will make a stronger community."

Keith said he supports the city becoming energy-efficient through methods such as wind and solar power, wants more attention given to parks and trails, and wants to see improvements to the Good Hope Street area of Ward 2 similar to upgrades to Broadway and other parts of downtown so businesses will locate there.

Incumbent Councilwoman Meg Davis, who serves Ward 2, will not run in the April election because she is moving out of the ward.

Bowen, who is so far unopposed in Ward 6, is a professor at Southeast Missouri State University, chairman of the history department and a columnist for the Southeast Missourian. In a recent interview, Bowen said his goals in seeking re-election are economic development and continued improvements to downtown. He also said he supports adding personnel to the police and fire departments and ensuring those departments have good equipment and training.

To be a candidate, a person must gather the signatures of 50 people who live in their ward. Wards 1, 2 and 6 are the only wards for which representation on the city council will be decided in April. The office of mayor also will be decided by voters in that election. Incumbent Mayor Harry Rediger and a challenger, Walter White, have so far picked up petitions.

Ward 1 is made up of the northeast section of the city. Ward 2 covers the south end and downtown. Ward 6 covers the west side of the city.

The filing period closes Nov. 19.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO