EIGHT CANDIDATES VYE FOR TWO OPEN SEATS ON KELLY SCHOOL BOARD

BENTON -- Eight candidates are vying for two seats on the board of education at Thomas W. Kelly Schools.

Two long-time incumbents, Mary Alice Schweer and Vincent Hulshof, are not seeking re-election. Both members have served on the board since April 1980.

Seeking the three-year term are candidates John Felter, Rita Milam, Joe Stuckey, Carl Stricker, Mike Riley, Ronnie Burton, Teresa DeWitt and Jim Arteme.

The candidates agree that financial concerns top the list of issues facing the district.

John Felter, a life-long resident of the Benton area and a former student of Kelly schools, is a farmer and landowner in Scott County. He also works for Schneider Equipment Company in Cape Girardeau.

"We have a commitment to our kids," he said. "They should be our number one priority. It's up to us to do everything within our power to continue to offer them the best academic opportunities possible."

Felter said he is worried about the loss of funding to the school district brought on by the state.

"It is sad that Gov. Ashcroft chooses to give the education of our children a `back seat.' I have strong feelings about the future well-being of our schools and believe the best thing to do is to get involved and stay informed on the issues.

"We have a dedicated team at Kelly faculty, staff, parents, students and interested citizens of the district. Together we can work to assure a well-rounded education for our children. Personally, I feel a strong commitment to this effort. That is why I am a candidate for school board at Kelly."

Felter is a member of the St. Denis Catholic Church Men's Club and is a lector and eucharistic minister in the parish. He is a member of the Oran Council 4311 of the Knights of Columbus and a member of the Benton Chamber of Commerce. He is also vice-chairman of the Scott County ASCS Committee.

He has served on the Scott County Extension Council, both as member and past officer. He is also a past member and officer in the Benton Jaycees. He and his family were named one of the honorary Scott County farm families in 1983. He is a past city council member in Benton and served as president while a member of the St. Denis Parish Council.

He and his wife, Janet, have two children, Jennifer, a high school junior, John Adam, an eighth grader.

Mike Riley said his interest in children, including three of his own, prompted his run for the school board.

"I am interested in getting more involved," he said. "I've always liked kids and have helped coach basketball and baseball.

"I'd like to see the school get more advanced education for students like computers and just to upgrade the system."

He said serving on the school board will take a lot of time. "I'm looking forward to it. I know it will be a tight race with eight candidates," Riley said, "but I think that shows more of the area is getting involved and that makes me happy."

Riley said community involvement is a key to good schools.

"With the situation with the state taking money away from the schools, if people don't step in and get involved schools will be in real trouble."

Riley is a dock foreman for Churchill Truck Lines in Sikeston.

He is a life-long resident of the area and attended Kelly schools.

He serves on the town board for Blodgett and was instrumental in getting a bond issue passed to fund a city water system.

Riley is in his third year as a high school umpire. He has served as president of the Benton T-Ball League, vice president of the Heartland Girls Softball League and is vice president of the Benton Little League.

He and his wife, Gail, have three children, Amanda, a freshman, Michael, a sixth-grader and Zane, 1-year-old.

Carl Stricker said he is interested in giving something back to the community.

"I feel like if you live in a community you should serve the community," Stricker said. "(Serving on the school board) will take some time, but I am willing to donate the time to do the best job I can.

"I just felt like it was time to do my part," he said. "This is a critical time in education and wanted to be involved."

He said budget concerns will top the schools priority list. "We'll have to have some ingenious ideas on ways to keep things at the best possible level for education," he said. "I'm looking forward to hearing some of the ideas."

Stricker served on a 1990 citizens advisory committee for the school district. "That made me aware of the workings of the school and what's going on."

Stricker is a farmer.

He serves on the Mississippi-Scott County rural fire district board of directors. He helped organize the district.

He is on the local MFA Oil Company board of directors, the Texas Bend Cemetery board of directors and is vice president of St. Henry Catholic Church parish council in Charleston.

He and his wife, Bernadette, have two children, Angela and Garrett.

Ronnie Burton said, "I feel like if more people got involved in each of the school districts, kids would have a little better education. It's a good thing for people to participate."

Burton runs two businesses, R.C. Burton Construction Co. and the Archery Shop in Benton.

"That experience in business is related to what I think is going to be some pretty tough decisions concerning budgets the school will face," Burton said. "Most of the schools in this area are suffering revenue cuts. But I think Kelly High School will be a survivor. I would just like to donate what time I possibly can to seeing that happens."

Burton has been involved with Boy Scouts. Through the archery shop, he also has worked with youth in tournaments and he coaches a girl's softball team.

He and his wife, Doris Jean, have a daughter, Shana, a freshman, and an older daughter who is married.

Teresa DeWitt said she has a personal investment in the betterment of the school district.

"I have a daughter in the fifth grade and in first grade and a 2-year-old," she said.

"I also graduated from Kelly so I have an emotional involvement and I want to make sure there is a school there for the future."

DeWitt said budget cuts and money are top issues for the district.

DeWitt is a stay-at-home mom. She is a member of the Minor Baptist Church where she teaches Sunday school. She and her husband, Phil, have three children, Heather, fifth grade, Leanna, first grade, and Coley, two years old.

Rita Milam said working together is the best way to solve problems.

Milam said financial issues are a top concern. "I think if people would work together, problems can get solved. It's kind of hard to say what the answers might be. But I think it's important to get people involved and all working together.

"Since the incumbents decided not to run, I thought this was a good time. I had always thought about running for the school board.

"I want to be there for the people. I can be their voice on the school board," she said.

"I graduated from the school and I am concerned about the school. I love kids and I think I can do a good job," Milam said.

Milam is chief deputy clerk for Scott County. She is a life-long resident of the area and a graduate of Kelly schools.

She has coached T-ball and is now coaching softball. She is a member of St. Denis Catholic Church, Benton Women's Club and is vice president of the Heartland Girls Softball League.

She and her husband, Brad, have two children, Jarrett, seventh grade, and Julie, fourth grade.

Joe Stuckey said his experience in business and local government has helped prepare him to serve on the school board.

"I'm concerned that we're getting the most for our money that education is not being left out in the cold," Stuckey said. "I want to make sure the money we've got is spent in the right places. I want to stress education. If budget cuts are to be made, make them somewhere other than where it affects the quality of education."

Stuckey is mayor of Benton.

"Having been in city government, I feel I can handle the budgeting and know a little bit about finances," he said. "I feel that experience will help me on the school board."

He is an agent for Shelter Insurance with an office in Chaffee. He also owns a car wash in Benton.

"I'll be available to talk to parents, teachers, students at any time," Stuckey said. "I want a line of communication at all time. If someone has a problem, I want them to feel free to contact me."

Stuckey is a life-long resident of the community and a graduate of Kelly High School.

He is a member of the Benton Chamber of Commerce, president of the Benton Senior Citizens Housing Committee, a member of the Kelly Boosters Club."

He and his wife, Ann, have two children, Sean, a high school senior, and Michelle, a junior.

Jim Arteme said helping children is the reason he has decided to run for the school board.

"It will take some interested people to make sure they are prepared to take the jobs that will be available in the future, to make sure they are prepared to go to college or to work, to make sure they can compete against kids from Sikeston, Poplar Bluff and Cape Girardeau.

"We have to give them a very sound foundation in education, all areas," Arteme said.

He was a member of a citizens advisory committee for the school district. "I'm very interested in the internal workings of the district," Arteme said.

Finances will be the top issue. "We will need to look into some creative financing," he said.

Arteme is warehouse manager for Thorngate Ltd. in Chaffee.

"In my job, I manage a warehouse. I have to maintain a budget and operate within that budget," he said.

That business experience, he said, should prove useful in a position on the school board.

"We're very proud of our school district. Just look at the dean's lists of various colleges. You see names of Kelly student. We're doing something right."

He is a Scout master and has been for the last five years. He has also worked with youth baseball.

"I get great pleasure out of doing community service," he said.

Arteme moved to Benton in 1971.

He just finished a three-year term as Parish council president for St. Denis Parish in Benton. He is a past president of the Benton Jaycees, and is a member of the Athletic and Band Boosters clubs at the school.

He and his wife, Margaret, have two children, Tom, a sophomore, and Amy, a sixth grader.