Cape Girardeau primaries: Rediger, Hopkins win spots on April ballot; Davis-Proffer, Moore win in Ward 2

In a primary race that drew out 8.45 percent of city voters, mayoral candidate Harry Rediger received more than twice as many votes as opponent Matt Hopkins.

Hopkins and Rediger beat out Walter White in Tuesday's runoff for the April 6 election, while Meg Davis-Proffer and Stafford Moore move on to vie for the Ward 2 council seat. Mayor Jay Knudtson and Ward 2 council member Charlie Herbst cannot seek re-election because of term limits.

Rediger, a retired businessman, garnered 1,349 votes or 65.8 percent of votes cast, according to unofficial results from the Cape Girardeau County clerk's office. Hopkins, an account representative for Technology and Networking/ASC, received 583 votes or 28.4 percent.

Harry Rediger

Hopkins said he will roll out more specific goals for the city in the coming months while highlighting his city government experience. He represented Ward 5 on the city council from 2000 to 2008.

"My message is going to be that I was there for eight years and I've got the experience and I know what it takes to be a mayor and be on the council," he said.

He said he will stick to a more grassroots approach by participating in forums and speaking engagements.

Rediger said he will continue campaigning on the idea that he wants to continue to be of service to the city.

Rediger has been on the city Planning and Zoning Commission for 20 years. He was chairman of the Saint Francis Medical Center Board of Directors from 1997 to 2007 and served on the Cape Girardeau School Board from 1995 to 1997.

"I'm totally dedicated to serving the city," he said. "We're going to carry the same message on through."

Rediger said he was humbled by receiving more than 65 percent of the vote.

"I had no idea that I would get the percent that I did," he said.

In his third bid for mayor, Walter White received 112 votes or 5.5 percent of the votes. White, a real estate investor and owner of Ole Country Store on Sprigg Street, rallied for lower taxes and improvements to the south side of the city. He also ran unsuccessfully for Cape Girardeau County Commission and the Cape Girardeau School Board in past elections. White could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

Matt Hopkins

In the Ward 2 primary, 203 votes were cast. Davis-Proffer, a radio account representative, received 50.3 percent of the votes.

"Hopefully this is a good indication that people who supported me now will come out in the general election," she said.

She said she conveyed to her supporters, which included many friends and neighbors, that the primary was important.

"This kind of gives me an idea of where I need to focus," she said.

Moore, a human resources/safety leader at Procter & Gamble, garnered 36.5 percent of votes. The two beat out Donald Howard Jr., a certified medical technician, for spots on the April ballot. Howard received 12.3 percent of votes. Howard could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

"I'm pleased, Moore said. "Now this is where the work begins."

He said he wants to "bring pride back to the ward," which covers downtown and the Good Hope-Haarig area. He said he wants to focus on improvements under the DREAM Initiative but also on the south side of the city.

He said the key will be getting more people to cast votes in the election.

"I'm pretty confident I could do that," he said.

abusch@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St. Cape Girardeau, MO

Returns for the mayor's race are as follows:

-- Matt Hopkins -- 583

-- Walter White -- 112

-- Harry E. Rediger -- 1,349

-- Write-in -- 7

In the Ward 2 city council race results are as follows:

-- Donald H. Howard Jr. -- 25

-- Meg Davis-Proffer -- 102

-- Stafford L. Moore Sr. -- 74

-- Write-in -- 2

Precinct totals in mayoral race

Precinct Harry Rediger* Walter White Matt Hopkins*

1 -- Red Star 52 16 32

2 -- Westminster 170 8 72

4 -- Centenary 65 8 20

6 -- Grace 59 3 32

7 -- Arena 97 4 40

8 -- City Hall 55 16 22

9 -- Church of Christ 10 12 12

12 -- House of Hope 15 15 9

13 -- Bethany 103 6 49

14 -- St. Andrew Lutheran 70 2 36

15 -- Bethany 105 7 48

16 -- La Croix 213 3 56

17 -- Arena 188 6 81

18 -- Fellowship 93 2 48

Absentee 54 4 26

Total 1,349 112 583

* denotes winners