April 4 ballot will feature fire tax, city races

When voters in Chaffee and Oran go to the polls on April 4, they'll have the chance to make significant changes to the make-up of their city governments, while voters in Kelso will make a decision on whether to continue a special fire tax, and Scott City voters will decide on a telecommunications tax.

Out of four city council races in Chaffee, three involve challenges to incumbents. The only incumbent not being challenged is Ward 3 councilman Mike Jobe.

Longtime Ward 2 councilman Bob Sullivan is facing a challenge from two contenders, college student Charles "Sean" Huey and business owner Loretta "Retta" Mohorc. Sullivan is the father of Robin Dannenmueller, the former Chaffee city court clerk who was charged in February with stealing $1,000 from the city court coffers.

Sullivan's opponents haven't used the charges in their campaigns, but each has expressed the desire to bring change to Chaffee.

In Ward 1, incumbent Leon "Lum" Stricklin faces a challenge from Harold Butch Cobb, who also said he wants to bring new ideas to the council.

In Ward 4, incumbent Jesse Jack Nordin faces a challenge from Paula Hicks, wife of the city's public works administrator, Eric Hicks.

Oran incumbents are also facing challenges in both the mayor's race and several races for the town's board of aldermen.

Incumbent Mayor Tom Urhahn faces a challenge for the seat he's held for 10 years from current Ward 2 alderman and business owner Ronnie Diebold Jr., and Ben Evans, a retired former business owner with experience as mayor and alderman.

Diebold's agenda includes seeking out grants to fund infrastructure improvements in the city and lower taxes. Evans also plans to seek out grants, saying his retired status will give him time to be a full-time mayor.

Ward 1 incumbent alderman Harold Landewee is being challenged by Billy Senciboy.

No incumbents are up for election in Ward 2, as current alderman Diebold is seeking the mayor's seat. Mike McVay, president of the Oran Business Betterment Association, will face Gil Roslen, husband of city collector Marcia Roslen, in that election.

In Ward 3 incumbent Jimmy Westrich faces a challenge from Ray Dean Hanselman. Hanselman is running on his experience of being self-employed and his longtime residence in Oran.

In Ward 4 incumbent alderman Gaylon Bryeans II is unchallenged, as is city collector Marcia Roslen.

In Kelso voters will decide whether to continue a long-standing property tax levy to pay for city fire protection. Larry McClain, chairman of the village's board of trustees, said the tax has a long history in Kelso but requires reapproval every four years.

The 13 cent per $100 valuation tax goes to pay for fire protection services from the Scott City Fire Department. McClain said that, with those services, the city saves about 35 percent on its insurance rate.

Kelso voters will also choose two members of the board of trustees. Only two candidates have filed for the at-large seats, McClain and Wendy Pennington.

Voters in Scott City have no contested races for city offices. Ward 1 incumbent Bill Schwartz, Ward 2 incumbents Jim McCarty and John Crail, Ward 3 incumbent Kirk Lewis and Ward 4 incumbent Ron Worl are all running uncontested.

However city voters will decide whether to start up a tax of 5 percent on gross receipts for companies providing telecommunications services in the city limits.

Commerce voters will choose three at-large members of the board of trustees. Only three candidates, Bobby LeDure, Dwayne Vetter and Alan Wright, have filed.

In Benton, Geri Lynn Hennemann in Ward 1 and Jim Arteme in Ward 2 face no challenges for their seats on the board of aldermen.

Chaffee Ward 1 city council

Harold "Butch" Cobb

Age: 46

Children: Kimberly

Occupation: Janitor, Scott City Rhodes Travel Center

Education: Chaffee High School

Memberships: First Baptist Church, Masons, Navy veteran

Statement: I think that we need some new blood in the city council. I think we need some different ideas in the city council.

Chaffee Ward 2 city council

Loretta "Retta" Mohorc

Age: 59

Spouse: Joseph

Children: Barbie Elfrink, Billie Jo Shepherd and Tony Mohorc

Occupation: Owner of The Pickett Fence antique store

Education: High school and some college

Memberships: Chaffee Centennial Committee, member of Chaffee Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Merchants Association, former member of the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and Antiques Association, former chairperson of Cincinnati Festivals and Tourism Bureau, former co-chair of Cincinnati-area Annual Applefest, member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church

Statement: I am deeply committed to my small town roots and I'm very happy to have been able to return to Chaffee. I've been back three years and have been very involved with the Centennial Committee, where I was chairperson of the fundraising and events committee.

I am a diligent member of the Chamber of Commerce and I'm dedicated to the enrichment of the community. I believe that I can be an integral part of the city government and can help to create a more progressive future for Chaffee citizens.

Charles "Sean" Huey

Age: 21

Occupation: Student at Southeast Missouri State University studying medical technology and microbiology

Education: Chaffee High School and two years of college

Membership: Worshipful Master of Chaffee Masonic Lodge, Rand officer in the St. Louis Scottish Rite, member of the York Rite bodies in Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau Shrine Club, member of Moolah Shriners, attends St. Ambrose Catholic Church

Statement: I want to improve Chaffee, I want to take it back to the way it was when it was a thriving community. And I want to see that my kids can have the same experience that I had growing up with a good small-town feeling and a family-like atmosphere with the people of this community.

Chaffee Ward 4 city council

Paula Hicks

Age: 49

Spouse: Eric

Children: Beth McFerron, Army Sgt. David Little

Occupation: Human resource/payroll manager, Drury Company

Education: Chaffee High School, Occupational Safety and Health Administration and other business courses

Memberships: Member of First Baptist Church, previous member of Chamber of Commerce, member of Cape Area Personnel Association, member of Society for Human Resource Management

Statement: I think it is time for a change. Sometimes it is good to get a new perspective on things and I think I can help with that. I have lived in Chaffee most of my life and it is a great town to live in. I am interested in helping to make changes that will help Chaffee grow.

Oran mayor

Ben Evans

Age: 64

Spouse: Diane

Children: Tracy, Lori, Ethan

Occupation: Retired, formerly owned trucking business in Oran for 32 years

Education: 11th grade, Oran

Memberships: None

Council experience: On city council one term, mayor one term

Statement: I've got plenty of time for the job and can be a 100 percent mayor. I understand grants and how to get them for the city. I owned a trucking business and know how to run a business.

Tom Urhahn (incumbent)

Age: 58

Spouse: Clara

Children: Keith and Ben

Occupation: Oran postmaster

Education: Oran High School

Membership: Knights of Columbus, treasurer; charter member of Oran Optimist Club and director; Morley VFW; Cape Girardeau Disabled Veterans; Guardian Angel Church

Government experience: Mayor 10 years, alderman 12 years prior to that, 12 years on Oran school board, 8 years as school board president

Statement: For the past 22 years, my main goal for the citizens of Oran was to foster and provide direction and leadership to attain a drug free and safe community where we could live, work and raise our families. I will continue to support the members of the City Council and the Oran Police Department in their efforts to provide a safe environment where everyone is treated fairly. I ask the community to join in support as we must assume the responsibility for our own actions and to "lead by example" for our youth (our children and grandchildren) to model and follow.

Ronnie Diebold Jr.

Age: 27

Spouse: Mia

Children: Parker

Occupation: Owner of Diebold's Auto Body in Oran and part-time bus driver for Oran schools

Education: Oran High School, associate degree in architectural and mechanical design and drafting from Three Rivers Community College

Memberships: Oran Knights of Columbus, parishioner of Guardian Angel Catholic Church

City government experience: Current Ward 2 alderman

Statement: Owning and operating a small business in town, I feel I have the time and ambition that is required for mayor.

Oran has not received a grant in over three years. I have been looking and researching as an alderman a few grants which are available for the City of Oran at this time. The more grants and government funding I can bring into Oran, the less taxes Oran citizens will have to pay each year.

I plan to reduce monthly water, sewer and trash cost for fixed-income families and the elderly. I plan to increase the amount of capital improvements, such as roads getting paved, sidewalks, routine culvert cleaning and routine tree trimming.

I plan to make the Oran City Hall wheelchair-accessible for our handicapped and elderly citizens.

I will have a police officer patrolling our school zones and children's crossings every single day, every morning and evening.

Oran Ward 2 alderman

Mike McVay

Age: 37

Spouse: Jodi

Children: Tanner, Peyton, Kennedi

Employment/occupation: P & G Technician

Education: Oran High School Salutatorian 1987, BS in Mass Communications -- Southeast Missouri State University, BS in Meteorology -- St. Louis University

Memberships: Guardian Angel Church of Oran parishioner, Oran Knights of Columbus member, Oran Business Betterment Association president, Guardian Angel School Board president, Oran Public School Building committee member

Statement: I feel that I have a proven background of leadership skills that will assist me in making important decisions for the citizens that I will represent within my ward. My creative thinking skills will be a huge asset to the Board if elected to serve the citizens of Oran. If elected, I have several major proposals to suggest to the Council that I feel will revitalize our community and make it a place that I hope our children, like us, will someday be happy to call their hometown.

Gil Roslen

Age: 48

Spouse: Marcia

Children: Garrett, Samantha, Stanley

Occupation: District manager, Aramark Uniform Company

Education: Richland High School, Southeast Missouri State (Law Enforcement, Business Management)

Memberships: Knights Of Columbus

Previous city government experience: 12 years as alderman, with two terms as mayor pro tem.

Statement: My reason for running for alderman is to be a voice for all citizens and not a particular group. I'm concerned about the way the city is being viewed by surrounding communities. We do have a good city, but we need to move forward by trying to attract more businesses and keeping a safe community for all residents. I'd also like to see the city continue with street improvements, which were first started while I was previously serving as alderman. We need to continue with good water and an adequate sewer system. All of these things, plus the everyday running of our city, which includes everything from finances to the upkeep of our mowers and tractors.

Oran Ward 3 alderman

Ray Dean Hanselmen

Age: 43

Spouse: Janice

Children: Quentin, Corey

Occupation: self-employed

Education: Oran High School

Memberships: Guardian Angel Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus

Statement: I am self-employed and have been for two years. This is one of the best decisions Janice and I have ever made. I would like to be alderman of Ward 3 in Oran. I would like to see more businesses in Oran and would like to see more things for children to do. I feel if elected, I would be a very good asset to Oran.