CANDIDATES TO FACE VOTERS IN JACKSON, CHAFFEE

Two races in the Jackson municipal and school board elections and one race in the Chaffee Board of Aldermen election face voters April 5. The filing deadline was Feb. 1.

In Jackson, a race for the two vacancies on the school board was assured when incumbent board member Larry Koenig filed Feb. 1 for a fourth term. The other candidates are incumbent board member Jack Knowlan Jr. and a newcomer, Ken Callis.

Meanwhile, in Chaffee, incumbent Ward 4 Alderman Brad Bader is oppsed in his bid for another term by Jesse "Jack" Nordin.

Koenig, 44, of 926 W. Main St., said he is seeking a fourth three-year term on the Jackson school board because of the number of important ongoing and upcoming projects he has been involved in, including construction of a middle school. Koenig is completing his ninth year on the board.

Said Koenig: "We've had a lot of positive things happen over the past several years in the Jackson school system. Our district has experienced significant growth in terms of student populations during the past 10 years.

"This has certainly placed demands on finances, utilities, and personnel needs in the past, and these are going to continue to be areas of major concern for our future."

Koenig said during his tenure on the board the board as a whole has successfully planned and completed capital projects -- most of them financed by bond issues -- in the school district totaling $10 million.

Koenig cited construction of the Orchard Drive Elementary School, renovation of the Central Elementary School into additional high school classrooms, construction of a high school multipurpose building, and construction of a bus transportation center. Later this spring construction of the $5 million middle school is scheduled to get under way.

"These are achievements that any school board in the state would be proud or envious of," he said.

He said: "I feel very good in saying that our school district has never proposed an issue that contained unnecessary or frivolous expenditures. Over the years the school board has based its requests on only those things which are necessary to continue providing a quality educational program for our students."

Koenig said the school board has enjoyed an excellent working relationship with the school administration, staff and district patrons.

"This has certainly been demonstrated in our successful bond issues, which have been approved by the voters in significant proportions," he said. "We have developed a reputation of going to the voters in our school district with our needs, giving them the straight facts about our proposal, and then asking for their support and approval."

Although there may be disagreements on certain issues between board members on occasion, Koenig said they have never been to the detriment of students.

Koenig is a 1967 graduate of Jackson High School. He graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 1971 with a degree in business administration. He and his wife Tamara have two sons: Andrew, 4, and Austin, 1.

Koenig also served two terms on the Jackson Board of Aldermen prior to his appointment to the Jackson Police Department 16 years ago. He was appointed police chief on Jan. 1, 1990. Koenig will become personnel director and officer manager at city hall as soon as a new police chief is named.

The only Jackson aldermanic race is in Ward 4, where two newcomers, Rodney Ladreiter and Fred Leimer, are running for the seat now held by Alderman Leroy Brown, who will retire from the board in April.

The other aldermen -- Ward 1, David Ludwig; Ward 2, David Reiminger; and Ward 3, Glenn Oldham -- are unopposed.

The only contested Chaffee race developed after Nordin, 66, filed for Ward 4 alderman just before the 5 p.m. deadline. Bader, 37, also filed on the last day around noon.

Bader, a Chaffee dentist for eight years, was appointed to the city council to fill an unexpired term in 1991. He was elected to a full term in April 1992.

Bader serves on the city's finance and solid-waste committees. He said balancing the city's budget is a challenge each year.

Bader said work on the solid-waste committee has taken on greater importance since landfill waste must be reduced to comply with state law. He said the city plans to apply for grants to help with implementing recycling.

"I enjoy the work on the city council," Bader said. "I'd like to do it for another two years."

Bader said council members work well together, even when there is a difficult issue.

"I look forward to the challenges on the council for the next two years if I'm elected."

Nordin, who retired from truck driving five years ago and then started a plumbing business in Chaffee during 1991, said this is his first time to run for a political office. He has been a Chaffee resident since 1979.

"The truth is: I don't think anybody should get a free ride," Nordin said about becoming a candidate. "I felt there should be some competition in the race. I like politics and I try to keep up with it."

Nordin said he's been to only one city council meeting before when he had a complaint. He said he felt less than satisfied with the way he was treated.

"I think it's serious business when you're using taxpayers' money," Nordin said.

"I don't have anything against my opponent," Nordin said. "I feel that people should have a right to choose between two candidates for the position."

In Chaffee, Ward 1 Aderman Jerry Wolsey, Ward 2 Alderman Wayne Crippen, and Ward 3 Alderman Ron Eskew, are unopposed.

Chaffee school board incumbents, Larry Myer and Dale Tierney, are also unopposed.