EX-CAPE POLICEMAN PLANS RUN FOR COUNCIL

Charlie Herbst, a former community service officer with the Cape Girardeau Police Department, has announced his plans to run for the Ward 2 city council seat in the April election.

"Now that I'm not working for the city, I want to stay involved," said Herbst, who is still a reserve officer but works full time at Innovative Idea Integration in Jackson, Mo., in the sales and marketing department. Herbst was a police officer for 10 years.

"I felt like as a city employee I was able to get a lot of things done in that area," Herbst, 38, said.

Ward 2 encompasses the southeastern part of the city. The seat is held by Councilman Tom Neumeyer, but term limits prohibit Neumeyer from seeking another term.

Petitions for the election will become available in September, and 50 signatures from registered voters must be collected from within the ward.

Voters will also vote for a new mayor and new Ward 6 councilman. Mayor Al Spradling III and Ward 6 Councilman Butch Eggimann cannot run again. Voters will also vote in Ward 1, but Councilman Frank Stoffregen can seek another term.

Herbst, who lives at 9 N. Benton, said he'd like to see a continued monitoring of minimum property standards, secure funding for the renovation of the River Campus and see that federal Community Development Block Grant continues to be used to enhance the ward.