Cape Fire Fighters Association backs council candidate

The Cape Girardeau Fire Fighters Association on Thursday endorsed City Council Ward 4 candidate Patrick Koetting.

Koetting is in a contested race with candidate Robbie Guard in the April 5 municipal election. The winner will replace Loretta Schneider, who could not run again because of term limits.

In a prepared statement, the association announced its members had voted unanimously to back Koetting.

“Mr. Koetting has the dedication and proven level of experience to be an effective councilman for the citizens of this city,” the statement noted.

Norman Baker, a captain in the fire department and president of the association, said the group has 55 members from the captain level on down.

Baker said Koetting is a longtime supporter of Cape Girardeau’s police and fire departments.

Koetting is a founding member of the Friends of Public Safety citizens group.

“He has also completed the Citizens Police Academy and, in a show of support for our members, participated in physical agility testing with the police and fire departments,” the association stated in the release.

The association said Koetting is well versed on the challenges faced by Cape Girardeau’s police and fire departments and committed to providing the “equipment, resources and experienced personnel” needed for public safety.

Baker said Koetting understands the need to raise pay in both departments to make salaries competitive with public-safety departments elsewhere.

“Both departments have tremendous turnover,” Baker said.

“We are confident that Patrick Koetting will be an approachable, dedicated and fiscally responsible councilman for the citizens of Ward 4,” the association said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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