Election update: 'Yes' votes carry the day in Cape school bond issue, Rediger wins mayor's race

9 p.m.

All precincts in Cape Girardeau County have been counted, and the Cape Girardeau school bond issue has won easy passage, while Harry Rediger easily won the mayor's race.

The $40 million school bond issue passed 3,585 to 2,267. In the mayor's race, Rediger received 3,626 votes to Matt Hopkins' 2,102.

Paul Nenninger and Philip Moore won election to the Cape Girardeau School Board. John Voss won the Cape Girardeau City Council Ward 1 seat, and Meg Davis-Proffer won in Ward 2. Look for full election results at http://semissourian.com/election.

8:40 p.m.

The race for Cape Girardeau City Council Ward 1 is separated by only 11 votes, as Teresa Robinson leads John Voss 2,195 to 2,184 with four of five precincts reporting.

8:30 p.m.

In Chaffee the sewer and water improvement bond issue passed 209 to 155. Jesse "Jack" Nordin defeated Ronald Eichhorn for the Chaffee City Council Ward 4 seat.

In Scott City, Lisa Schaeffer and David Gene Thompson were elected to the school board.

Full results for contested Scott County races are posted on our election page.

8:15 p.m.

With 14 of 19 precincts reporting, the "yes" votes for Cape Girardeau's $40 million school bond issue outnumber the "no" votes 2,423 to 1,576. The bond issue looks to be destined to pass.

Harry Rediger also enjoys a commanding lead over Matt Hopkins in the mayor's race with 11 of 15 precincts reporting, 2,411 to 1,466.

In the Cape Girardeau School Board race, Paul L. Nenninger looks to be assured of a seat with 2,020 votes. Nenninger is followed by Philip Moore with 1,518, Don Call with 1,332 and Hamner Hll with 897. Fourteen of 19 precincts are reporting. The two with the highest number of votes will serve on the board.

8:05 p.m.

Unofficial results for Bollinger County races have come in.

• Sheila K. Bess and Dennis R. Mouser won seats on the Meadow Heights school board
• Jim Thele and Martin Arnzen won seats on the Leopold school board
• Chris Rhodes and Brian N. Johnson won seats on the Woodland school board
• Mike Hovis and Jim Beal Jr. won seats on the Zalma school board
• Jason Dailey, Kristi Hays and Merri Mungle won seats on the Sedgewickville Board of Trustees.

4:30 p.m.

Cape Girardeau voters choosing a new mayor and deciding the fate of a $40 million school bond issue were turning out in steady numbers at several Cape Girardeau polling stations, precinct workers reported during noonhour visits.

Cape Girardeau County workers set up election equipment Monday at Red Star Baptist Activities Center for Cape Girardeau Precinct 1 voters to use today. (Fred Lynch)

Nearly 400 people had voted by 12:30 p.m. at Precinct 17 at the Arena Building. Another 235 had voted in Precinct 7, which is also stationed at the Arena Building.

"Turnout is good for an April election," said Sheila Caskey, an election judge for Precinct 17.

Precinct 7 judge Carol Sparkman agreed and said many voters were coming out for the bond election.

Voting continues until 7 p.m. The Cape Girardeau ballot also includes council races in Wards 1 and 2 on the eastern side of the city.

Jennifer Dennis, a mother of two with a daughter in kindergarten at Clippard Elementary School, said leaky roofs and maintenance issues convinced her to support the bonds issue.

If approved, the bonds would finance a replacement for Franklin Elementary School, a new auditorium and sports arena as well as 16 new classrooms at Cape Girardeau Central High School and a program to catch up on deferred maintenance and energy efficiency issues.

"I feel we really need to invest in the public school system to have a cohesive community," Dennis said.

While some people feel the bond issue has unnecessary extras -- the auditorium and sports stadium are two items cited -- Dennis sees those facilities as essential to a complete education.

But David Kunz, who was among 366 voters who cast ballots by 1 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, said he voted against the bond issue because of those extras. It is the first time he has ever cast a ballot against a school initiative, he said.

The extra classrooms slated for the high school show a lack of vision, Kunz said, noting that the high school itself is only about a decade old. "I just think they need to get their long-term planning in shape," Kunz said.

The race for mayor between former councilman Matt Hopkins and retired businessman Harry Rediger could come down to who is better known in the community. Kunz said he voted for Rediger because of a long-term relationship.

"I've known Harry for almost 20 years and he has obviously done a lot for the community already," Kunz said.

Cathy Seiler, voting at the Arena Building, said she selected Hopkins because he is the younger of the two candidates. "I wanted to get somebody younger because we need younger, fresher ideas," she said.

Turnout was about normal at polling locations in south Cape Girardeau. At City Hall, about 110 voters had cast ballots by noon, while 33 had voted by that time at the House of Hope, 1000 Ranney Ave., and about two dozen ballots has been cast at the Church of Christ, 328 S. West End Blvd.

Issues in other areas include a water bond issue in Chaffee, a school bond issue in Altenburg and school board elections in most area districts.

rkeller@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent addresses:

410 Kiwanis Drive, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

328 S. West End Blvd., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

1000 Ranney Ave., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

1820 Perryville Rd., Cape Girardeau, Mo.