COUNCIL BID: EXPERIENCE IS ASSET, SAYS MELVIN KASTEN

Cape Girardeau City Council candidate Dr. Melvin Kasten says his experience in business and "medical politics" gives him the skills needed to govern the sound management of city resources.

Kasten has been a Cape Girardeau surgeon since 1955, and has served on local, state and national medical boards and associations.

He said Tuesday that management of the city's financial resources has emerged as an important issue for the city council to address.

The candidate Tuesday will seek election to one of three, four-year terms on the council. Other candidates are incumbent Al Spradling III, Lawrence Godfrey, Melvin Gateley and Loretta Schneider.

"Management of our resources will be a key issue in the next four years," said Kasten. "With our tax base down, we've got to be able to increase our resources somewhere down the line."

He said one avenue that could be better used to increase city tax revenue is promotions of conventions and tourism. The city already has a hotel and restaurant sales tax that finances tourism and economic development funds.

"I think tourism could increase city revenues without additional taxes," Kasten said. "One thing I've discussed with my wife in the past is that the city could look into possibly buying the Black Forest and turning that into a real tourist attraction for the city."

Black Forest, situated north of Cape Girardeau, is privately owned and includes replica villages from the turn of the century.

Kasten, whose wife is Missouri Rep. Mary Kasten, said he has long had an interest in local politics, but time constraints of work prevented his involvement.

"I don't take emergency calls anymore, so I've got more time in the evenings," he said. "I've always had an interest in politics, and I've been involved with medical politics for the past 25 years, which is almost the same."

Kasten said he thinks the city's "on the right track" with its five-year capital improvements program, but that many needed projects will be difficult to do without additional funding.

"One of the most important things anybody can do is long-range planning whether in the home, for a business or a city," he said.

"We've got to finish Lexington so we have another artery so we can move traffic in Cape Girardeau. I think once we finish Lexington, then we can finish some of these other streets that need work like Perryville Road."

Kasten said he'd support putting a transportation sales tax referendum before the voters to pay for needed street improvements that currently are unfunded.

He said an issue that has divided a number of residents is the city's solid-waste management plan. He said the plan, which is designed to meet mandates of a new state landfill law, likely will be more palatable as residents become more accustomed to it.

Kasten said his business background also should help in governing the city. He's on the board of directors of his family's brick business and agriculture business, is one of the founder's of Doctors' Park, and a member of the Southeast Missouri Hospital Board of Trustees.

Kasten and his wife live at 1209 Sailer Circle. They have three children: Dr. Mark C. Kasten, Mike Kasten and Margaret Kasten. He's a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University and the University of Pittsburgh, where he received his doctorate of medicine.

Kasten is a member of the American Medical Association. Since 1955 has served as alternate Missouri delegate to the organization. From 1982-1986 he also was chairman of the Missouri delegation of the association.

He has served in many other capacities in the medical field, including: current chairman of council for the Missouri State Medical Association, for which he has served as 10th District councilman since 1983; and a member and past president of the Missouri State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts.

Kasten also is a veteran of World War II, where he served in the Air Force as a bombardier and navigator from 1942-1945.

Other civic activities include the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; charter member of the St. Andrew Lutheran Church; and past Little League coach.