Cairo candidate profiles

The Southeast Missourian mailed questionnaires to every candidate in Cairo city elections. These responses, edited for space, were received by press time.

Mayor

Name: Lonnie J. Burris

Personal: 57, divorced

Occupation: Sales associate

Nancy Phillipper

Previous political office: None

1. What is the most pressing issue that must be addressed by Cairo city government in the next four years?

A. The economy and integrity in city governnment. Simply put, Cairo's city government and community have never been able to recognize and manifest the many assets and resources available to it. Combine that with pettiness and political corruption, and you have a lost city in search of itself, on the brink of financial collapse.

2. What is your view of the relationship between Mayor Paul Farris and the city council? Please explain.

A. Regardless of one party's feelings toward one another, there is never justification for letting it take precedence over the interests of the town and community. Not only is that showing a lack of professionalism, it is simply petty and immature. The question remains, though, is Paul Farris a tyrant or just a strong-willed leader trying to fight political corruption and establishing a working government? I think the answer to that is yes on both counts.

Karl Klein

3. What specific items are you proposing to bring economic growth to Cairo?

A. I see tourism as Cairo's cultural and economic future. It is vital we do not endanger or jeopardize the potential for developing our tourist industry. To do so would be insane and foolish, and in the long run would be cultural suicide. But in desperate times sometimes desperate measures have to be taken. So I am for the Bunge biofuel plant. But I am adamantly opposed to the coal gasification plant proposed for north of Cairo.

Name: Karl H. Klein

Personal: 74. Married, two grown sons

Occupation: Retired utilities manager; part-time consultant

Phillip Hodges

Previous political office: Candidate for Alexander County commissioner in the 1970s

1. What is the most pressing issue that must be addressed by Cairo city government in the next four years?

A.The financial issue. We need to have an immediate audit and file the previous audits with the state of Illinois and proceed from there. An established, working relationship with the aldermen and citizens of Cairo is of prime importance.

2. What is your view of the relationship between Mayor Paul Farris and the city council? Please explain.

A. The past four years of city government is the reason I felt impelled to seek this position. It is time to move on for the sake of Cairo.

Lonnie Burris

3. What specific items are you proposing to bring economic growth to Cairo?

A. 1. Develop working relationships with state and federal legislators. 2. Pursue industries. 3. Revitalization of Cairo.

Name: Nancy M. Philipper

Personal: 65, divorced, two grown children

Occupation: Retired legal secretary

Previous political office: Cairo city clerk, May to September 2006

1. What is the most pressing issue that must be addressed by Cairo city government in the next four years?

A. I believe economic development and growth are the most pressing issues facing Cairo. Unless we all work together to make Cairo a better place to live, economic development and growth will not happen.

2. What is your view of the relationship between Mayor Paul Farris and the city council? Please explain.

A. This is a culmination of the political division that has existed in Cairo for years. A house divided falls. I believe the conflict and division that seems to be so much a part of city politics here has caused Cairo's downfall. However, the real victims are the citizens who haven't taken sides and yet have had to watch helplessly as their historic city with so much potential continues to crumble.

3. What specific items are you proposing to bring economic growth to Cairo?

A. It is my plan to start a farmers market with fresh produce and homemade pies, jams, jellies, bread, etc. and then add a small cafe and welcome center, all off Interstate 57. It is also my plan to rehab historic and architecturally significant buildings, including the old hospital. Most important of all, it is my plan to work with and listen to both sides and -- like Carolyn Ponting stresses -- compromise. I think once we work together, people will invest their money in Cairo.

No response:

Paul F. Farris, Bobby Whitaker, Judson Childs, Joe E. Griggs, Esley Dee Cornelius Jr., Carolyn J. Ponting and Monica L. Smith.

Councilman at large

Name: R.D. Foxworthy

No personal information provided.

1. What is the most pressing issue that must be addressed by Cairo city government in the next four years? No answer.

2. What is your view of the relationship between Mayor Paul Farris and the city council? Please explain.

A. Mayor Paul Farris addressed the city council, with the exception of Carolyn Ponting, in the manner that any responsible adult would address undisciplined, spoiled, delinquent juveniles, which is exactly the way the city council behaved and deserved to be treated.

3. What specific items are you proposing to bring economic growth to Cairo? No answer.

Name: James R. "Bob" Conroy

Personal: 62, widowed

Occupation: Retired educator, coach, athletic director, dean of students at Cairo High School

Previous office: None

1. What is the most pressing issue that must be addressed by Cairo city government in the next four years?

A. To present ourselves as a united city council working in harmony. To provide municipal services in a timely manner and cost effective manner. To provide cooperative leadership encouraging the recruitment of new businesses and the growth of large and small enterprises.

2. What is your view of the relationship between Mayor Paul Farris and the city council? Please explain.

A. I am looking forward to working with the next mayor and a fresh city council.

3. What specific items are you proposing to bring economic growth to Cairo?

A. 1. Begin a citywide cleanup presenting Cairo as an attractive, peaceful community to live in. 2. Give incentives to new businesses. 3. Pursue financial participation from county, state and federal government.

No response:

Christopher R. Davault, David L. Mason and Linda Jackson.

Councilman Ward 1

No response:

Joseph W. Holder, James "Jim" Wisniewski, Darrell Thomas and

Elbert "Bo" Purchase.

Councilman Ward 2

Name: Thomas M. Simpson

No personal information provided.

1. What is the most pressing issue that must be addressed by Cairo city government in the next four years?

A. Economic growth.

2. What is your view of the relationship between Mayor Paul Farris and the city council? Please explain.

A. This matter is behind us and has nothing to do with the upcoming elections.

3. What specific items are you proposing to bring economic growth to Cairo?

A. There are currently projects being developed. I am supportive of those projects and any projects that will generate revenue and jobs for Cairo.

No response:

Kathy McAllister and Joseph "Mike" Farrow.

Councilman Ward 3

No response:

Lorenzo C. Nelson, Sandra Tarver

and Julia Schubert.

Councilman Ward 4

Name: Gloria Sluder

Personal: 69, divorced, eight grown children

Occupation: Retired from Florida schools, now working as a social worker at Senior Citizens Center

Previous office: None

1. What is the most pressing issue that must be addressed by Cairo city government in the next four years?

A. We need honest strong leadership to over come the past along with good cooperation from the city council. Someone with a working knowledge of contract negotiations and who will help Cairo acquire new businesses.

2. What is your view of the relationship between Mayor Paul Farris and the city council? Please explain.

A. Paul Farris is an honest, knowledgable man who tried his best for Cairo with nothing but obstinacy from the city council.

3. What specific items are you proposing to bring economic growth to Cairo?

A. Energy plants and businesses that can use our rivers and rails and roads. Businesses that will employ our people. I also believe we need to beautify and extend our infrastructure. We have many needs to address, many changes to make in our thinking.

Name: Linda A. King

Personal: Close to 60, two married children

Occupation: Retired

Previous political office: None

1. What is the most pressing issue that must be addressed by Cairo city governnment in the next four years?

A. Cairo needs to get its finances in order, beginning with the audits that are past due. Without this being completed, we cannot pursue any more grant funding and may possibly lose the ones that we have previously been awarded. Secondly, the new city government must work together and work with the citizens of Cairo.

2. What is your view of the relationship between Mayor Paul Farris and the city council? Please explain.

A. Why ask about the negative? It is time to start thinking about positive ideals, positive attitudes, positive ideas and a positive future for Cairo.

3. What specific items are you proposing to bring economic growth to Cairo?

A. First, I will introduce a resolution to reduce the pay rate and benefits for all council members. This is a job that should be done out of love and caring about our city. Secondly, we need to pursue the businesses and industry that have shown an interest in Cairo and keep pursuing others as we get our act together and some major infrastructures brought up to par. Third, we need to support the businesses already established here.

No response:

Shirley Bryant, Thomas Burris Jr. and Richard Pitcher.

Councilman Ward 5

Name: Charles Allen Caldwell

Personal: 29, single

Occupation: Floral designer

1. What is the most pressing issue that must be addressed by Cairo city governnment in the next four years?

A. First off, whomever is elected into office needs to work together. The lawsuits need to be cleared as well as working towards a manageable operating budget. Industry is a big issue for the residents as well as bringing revenue into the city.

2. What is your view of the relationship between Mayor Paul Farris and the city council? Please explain.

A. We as a city are trying to look and move into the future. The past cannot be changed. This election, I think, will speak for itself.

3. What specific items are you proposing to bring economic growth to Cairo?

A. My proposal is to bring my ability to work with whoever is elected. And by the cooperation of the mayor and the city council, we as a city can achieve any goal set before us. Cooperation is the key.

Name: Phillip Craig Hodges

Personal: 53, married, two sons

Occupation: Owner and operator of Fill-Up Mart Vending, operator of convenience stores, newspaper carrier

Previous political office: None

1. What is the most pressing issue that must be addressed by Cairo city governnment in the next four years?

A. Balancing the budget first and foremost because the city's future depends on this. This is one area that touches every citizen in Cairo because the more tax dollars spent on running our city, is money we are taking away from our schools and outreach programs for our children.

2. What is your view of the relationship between Mayor Paul Farris and the city council? Please explain.

A. Obviously one of animosity toward each other.

3. What specific items are you proposing to bring economic growth to Cairo?

A. Working with the rest of the council members and mayor in securing Bunge's biodiesel plant and the new coal gasification plant. The economic boost and job opportunities they would bring to Cairo would put a stop to the decline we have been in.

No response:

Tyrone Coleman