Advance mayor takes leave of absence

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Advance mayor Carl "Pete" Ritter announced Monday he will take a leave of absence to go through a series of cancer tests.

Alderman Wayne Page will step up to help during the mayor's temporary absence.

"I'm going to have cancer the rest of my life," Ritter told city officials and employees at the board of aldermen meeting. "If you want me to step down so you can bring someone else in here, I'm ready to do it. Otherwise, I can take a leave of absence until I can get all these tests run."

Aldermen were unanimous in requesting the mayor follow the second option.

"I'll do anything I can to ease your load," said Mayor Pro Tem Wayne Page.

Page will conduct the monthly meetings when Ritter cannot be there, and he will have the authority to see checks are signed.

"The city pretty well runs itself," Ritter said. "These two girls [Tina Bailey and Linda Weisenborn] can handle things in the office, and I've asked Brock [Cato, maintenance supervisor] here tonight to give him the power to fix things that he sees that need to be fixed."

In the meantime, Ritter asked for prayers.

"I was going to refile for mayor in April, but we'll have to see what the road has in store," he said.