FORMER COLLEAGUES COME TO THE DEFENSE OF EIDE

Former Cape Girardeau city manager Gary Eide resigned as city manager of Salem, Ore., last month amid a state investigation of that city's financial procedures, including his travel expenses.

But friends and former colleagues in Cape Girardeau defended Eide. They described him as a man of high integrity who never engaged in any financial misdeeds while running the city government here.

"He has impeccable integrity and character and the highest sensitivity on matters pertaining to conflict of interest and finance," said City Councilman David Limbaugh. "I thought he was a consummate professional."

Cape Girardeau Assistant City Manager Al Stoverink served as an administrative assistant when Eide was city manager of Mexico, Mo., in the late 1970s. Stoverink subsequently served as finance director for the city of Cape Girardeau during Eide's tenure as city manager here.

"I just know from my experience with Gary that he is highly respected for his integrity, as well as his ability, and I personally have a great deal of respect for him," said Stoverink.

"I am absolutely certain that Gary would not have done anything dishonest or consciously done anything that would negatively reflect on the city management profession," he said Wednesday.

Evelyn LeGrand of Cape Girardeau, a former administrative secretary in the Cape city manager's office, described Eide as a good friend. She has frequently talked with Eide since he moved to Salem. She and her family visited Eide during a trip to Oregon last July.

"I've never had any occasion to question Gary's integrity and I know of no one that has," she said. "I would find it absolutely incredible if they can find anything to accuse him of."

LeGrand said she had not talked with Eide for a couple of months. She said she talked with Eide when the investigation began but was not aware of the most recent developments, including Eide's resignation.

Eide's resignation came amid an Oregon Justice Department investigation of city financial procedures. The investigation, which began Feb. 12, was completed in late April.

Marla Rae, a Justice Department spokesman in Salem, Oregon's capital, said Tuesday that the investigative report had been submitted to the Marion County district attorney's office.

She said it would be up to the district attorney whether or not any charges would be filed.

Eide, who had voluntarily been on paid administrative leave since March 5, resigned as Salem's city manager on April 26.

The 48-year-old Eide had served as Salem's city manager since January 1988. At the time of his resignation, Eide was making a salary of more than $91,000.

Under the terms of his contract, the city will not have to give Eide six months severance pay totaling more than $45,000 because he resigned.

In his letter of resignation, Eide said his action was "in the best interest of myself, the organization and the people of Salem." But he did not discuss the investigation.

The Salem Statesman Journal newspaper has reported that part of the investigation focused on city business trips that Eide took to Japan, New York City and San Francisco between October 1990 and October 1992, and a lack of travel receipts detailing how the money was spent. No specific dollar amounts were mentioned, except in connection with the Japan trip.

The newspaper said that Eide was given a $1,000 advance before the Japan trip in October 1992, but city officials were unable to find any post-trip expense reports detailing how the money was spent.

In early 1988, Eide ran into questions about the more than $800 in temporary living expenses for which he sought reimbursement. The expenses included pet and cleaning supplies. Eide subsequently received reimbursement, the Salem newspaper reported.

Eide's resignation as Cape Girardeau's city manager also came amid some controversy. Eide resigned as Cape's city manager in November 1987 to take a position as city manager of Salem.

His resignation came at a time when there was public criticism from some Cape residents that there was too much bureaucracy in city government. Eide also had been criticized by Mayor Gene Rhodes. The mayor said at the time that he had "not agreed with Eide on all items."

Rhodes could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Former Cape Girardeau councilman Curt Smith served on the council during Eide's administration. "We became personal friends after I was on the council," said Smith. "He was just a fantastic person."

Smith said Eide "made some very good changes to get more control over all the expenditures of the city."

Smith said the council in late 1987 decided to look for a new city manager that would be more public-relations oriented.

"Gary was very active in the community, but he wasn't one of those guys that continually patted himself on the back," said Smith.

Limbaugh said the council at that time wanted someone who would be "more interactive with the community." The council subsequently hired J. Ronald Fischer as city manager.

Limbaugh said Eide also felt it was time to move on. "I think Gary himself felt that it was time for a change because there was so much controversy in town.

"There was a lot of controversy and Gary was the scapegoat for a lot of it," said Limbaugh.

Smith said he remembers Eide saying that a city manager typically serves about five years in a community. Eide served as city manager of Cape Girardeau for almost seven years.

Salem city council members recently said Eide had a "low-key, behind-the-scenes" management style. "Because he has a laid-back management style, he is not perceived to be a strong leader," Mayor R.G. Andersen-Wyckoff was quoted as saying.

The Statesman Journal said concerns about Eide's leadership had plagued him throughout his tenure as Salem's city manager.

After two years on the job, an outside consultant concluded he should improve his leadership style. In addition, city council members expressed concern about a communication gap between themselves and the city manager, the Statesman Journal reported.

Both Smith and Limbaugh said Eide also had a low-key management style when he was city manager of Cape Girardeau.

"That is one of the things that I think hurt him here," recalled Smith. He said Eide focused on the internal workings of Cape's city government.

Both Smith and Limbaugh said Eide didn't get involved in local politics. "He refused to be a part of it," said Limbaugh.

Assistant City Manager Stoverink said that Eide is well respected in the city management profession and has served as a consultant to cities in the International City Managers Association over the years.

But he said that city management can be a difficult job. "With city government, you are in such a fish bowl. You are dealing with so many different things.

"Everybody is going to make a mistake once in a while. Sometimes you have to use common sense to try to get something done," said Stoverink.

"If somebody wants to go after you, there are all kinds of things that people can dredge up. Whether they are substantial or not is another issue," he said.