Flooding becomes big issue leading up to Oran's April mayoral election

ORAN, Mo. -- During the last election two years ago, most of the news out of Oran focused on some residents' disenchantment with new police chief Marc Tragesser's get-tough policies. Tragesser had replaced longtime chief Howard Stevens, who rarely wrote traffic tickets.

The dust raised in Oran over the police chief seems to have settled since Steve Shoemaker replaced Tragesser a year ago. Now, flooding is the biggest issue in April's election for mayor and the Oran Board of Aldermen.

In the race for mayor, Ward 2 Alderman Ron Diebold Jr. is challenging Mayor Tom Urhahn, who is seeking re-election for the sixth time. Diebold lost a 2006 run against Urhahn by nine votes.

Both men say they have not campaigned for the position. "I'm going to go on my past 12 years as mayor and 18 years as alderman," said the 60-year-old Urhahn. "If I'm elected, fine. If not, life goes on."

Diebold, 27, said he wants the city to get more money to update its sewer and water systems. The city's flooding problems are occurring on the low end of town, he said. "Every time city workers turn around they're having to work on a main or our ditches in town."

Diebold, who owns an auto body repair business, also wants to see more money spent on parks and on installing a wheelchair ramp at city hall.

Urhahn said Oran needs state and federal help to upgrade its sewer lift stations but can work on its drainage problems itself. The latter primarily occur because people don't keep their ditches clean, Urhahn said. "A lot of the culverts get closed up."

Both candidates said people are happy with the new police chief. Unknown to many residents, Diebold said, Shoemaker is out working the streets at night and makes numerous drug busts. "He's really hammering down on that," he said.

In the race for the Oran Board of Aldermen, Rosalia Friga is challenging incumbent Billy Senciboy Jr., for his Ward 1 seat. Friga served on the board for five years in the past and also spent nine years on the Oran school board.

Senciboy, 33, says cleaning up certain areas of town and ditches and getting grants to improve the town are the primary challenges facing Oran.

Employed by Oran Building Supply, he is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Theta Xi fraternity and the Perkins Fire Department. He's says he's running to make Oran a better place to live.

Friga, 62, has owned a business in Oran for 43 years and is a member of a number of civic organizations. She is a past president of the Oran Chamber of Commerce.

"I hear a lot of good and bad things about our town, and I hope to help solve anyone's concerns to keep Oran as a great place to live, raise children and retire."

She also thinks the primary challenge facing the town is to open up the drainage ditches to avoid flooding.

In Ward 2, Alderman Mike McVay is being opposed by Gil Roslen. McVay, a 39-year-old technician for Procter & Gamble, says the city needs to continue to work with outside resources to resolve some of its flooding issues. The two men also ran against each other in 2006.

Information about Roslen was unavailable.

Russel Friga, Rosalia Friga's son, is unopposed for the Ward 3 seat.

Alfred Bonifield is going after the seat of Alderman Gaylon Bryeans III in Ward 4. Bonifield, 73, is a past mayor and alderman. He is a member of the Sikeston Eagles, Sikeston Elks and the American Legion.

Asked why he is running he said, "I have spare time and would like to put it to good use."

Information about Bryeans was unavailable.

City collector Marcia Roslen, wife of Ward 2 candidate Gil Roslen, is unopposed to retain her position.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137