2ND DISTRICT COUNTY COMMISSION HOPEFULS STRESS QUALIFICATIONS

Max Stovall and Joe Gambill both agree on one thing as they campaign for an open 2nd District seat on the Cape Girardeau County Commission.

They both agree the most important factor voters should consider when they go to the polls Tuesday is their background and experience.

Both are retired after successful careers, Gambill as a manager of manufacturing plants and Stovall as a contractor and businessman.

"I think my past work experience for the last 46 years will be a great asset in managing parks and the buildings of the county," said Stovall, 70.

"I have 40 years of manufacturing experience, working in heavy industry," said Gambill, 67. "That calls for managing budgets and looking after a plant's equipment and people, and that is basically the same thing the county does."

Gambill said his top priority and the No. 1 problem facing the county is keeping it in a fiscally responsible position.

With at least two new county commissioners coming on board, Gambill knows that many of the groups and offices that have sought county funds before will be coming back.

"Every issue dead and buried will be raised again," he said. "Everybody will be trying to increase their piece of the pie. We will have to look at why decisions were made in the past and be ready to say no."

Stovall is also anticipating a run on the county's financial resources.

"One of my biggest objectives is to keep Cape County No. 1 in every respect," he said. "I will be trying to keep things in as good of condition as they have been, because our predecessors have done a good job."

Gambill said he is concerned about mandates coming down from the state and federal governments and the impact on county government.

Gambill also wants to be aggressive as a commissioner in trying to bring new industry to Cape County to expand the job base.

Currently, Gambill serves as chairman of the Cape Girardeau Industrial Recruitment Association board and as a commissioner of the SEMO Regional Port Authority. Both positions give him strong insight into industrial recruitment, he said.

Stovall said he supports further cooperative efforts with other entities on recruiting industry.

Stovall is a past longtime member of the Cape Chamber and served on the board of the Cape Girardeau Development Corp. for 10 years.

He also served four years as public works commissioner for the city of Cape Girardeau and has been chairman of the building committee at Southeast Hospital for 10 years.

If elected, Stovall said he would work to continue improvements of the county parks and put in place a development plan for additional acreage acquired recently for future park land.

Over the next few years, Stovall said the county needs to be prepared for change as it transitions to a 1st Class county status.

"I have always been used to change and have been able to cope with it," he noted.

Gambill said the county has been well managed over the years and that his goal will be to maintain the status quo.

"If I can make some slight improvements as opportunities come up that would be a plus," he said.

BIOGRAPHIES

Max Stovall

Lifelong resident of Cape Girardeau.

Past commander of the American Legion, past president of the Cape Girardeau Rotary Club, and president of the Cape Senior Center.

Retired contractor.

Member of First Church of the Nazarene.

Wife, Evelyn. They have two children and three grandchildren.

Joe Gambill

Moved to Cape Girardeau in 1971 as manager of what is now Lone Star Cement.

Became plant manager at Biokyowa in 1983. Now a consultant for the company.

Member of St. Vincent's Catholic Parish.

Wife, Rosemary. They have five children.

CAPE COUNTY ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER

Candidates: Democrat Max Stovall, 70, retired contractor and businessman. Republican Joe Gambill, 67, retired plant manager.

District: All of Cape Girardeau except for Ward 17.

Duties: Along with two other commissioners, make up the county's administrative body. Traditionally, the 2nd District commissioner is responsible for overseeing maintenance of county buildings and parks.

Term: Two years.

Salary: $25,000.

Incumbent: Republican E.C. Younghouse, who first took office in February 1988, isn't seeking re-election.