Steven Wayne Wright filed Tuesday for a seat on the Cape Girardeau Board of Education. He became the fourth candidate to seek one of three seats on the board.
Wright, vice president of Mercantile Bank, said he has been interested in seeking a position on the school board for several years.
Seeking re-election are John Campbell and Kathy Swan. Jack Sterrett has also filed for a position on the board.
On April 6 voters will select three members. The state legislature last year increased the size of school boards from six to seven members, so an additional position is being filled April 6.
"I decided it's time to give it a shot, and hopefully I can help," Wright said.
He has worked at Mercantile Bank for three years and has been in the banking industry for 15 years.
Wright is a native of Cape Girardeau and is a Central High school graduate.
He said his experience in the banking industry would prove beneficial to the board.
"I just thought with the economy the way it is, and what's come into play with needing new buildings, I might be able to give some insight," Wright said.
He said as a Central High graduate he is interested in giving something back to his alma mater. "I got a lot from it and would like to give something back to it," Wright said.
"Being a life resident, I can see some things I like and some things that need to be changed," Wright said.
"I'm concerned about drugs and about getting kids involved in school," he said. "And I'm also concerned about teacher morale; I feel that educators aren't appreciated. They spend more time with our kids than we do sometimes. Teachers are a big influence on their lives."
Wright's wife, Nancy, is a teacher at Central High School.
His son Corey is a sophomore and his son Scott is in sixth grade.
Wright is a member of the Noon Optimist Club and a former member of the Cape West Rotary Club.
He is involved in boy scouting and is a coach for youth baseball and church league basketball.
A member of Grace United Methodist Church, Wright has served on several church boards.
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