GAMBILL TO SEEK ANOTHER TERM ON COMMISSION

When people encouraged Joe Gambill to campaign for a Cape Girardeau County Commission seat in 1994, he had reservations.

He said he wasn't sure getting involved in politics was a good idea, and he certainly didn't want to lose an election.

Gambill won in his district, taking the two-year commission seat Jan. 1, 1995.

Now, just over a year later, he is ready for another election -- this time with no reservations. He even may consider another term after this one, should he win.

Gambill is hooked.

"For the first six months, I wasn't comfortable," he said. "Now we've gotten some things started, and I'd like to stay with them. There's money to manage and buildings to study. We need a master plan."

An immediate concern is making county buildings accessible to the disabled and providing more filing space. The commission took a step toward solving the space problem by purchasing video imaging equipment to make microfiche.

Since Gambill has been in office, the County Commission allocated more money for roads and added several acres to the county park system.

Gambill, 68, lives with his wife, Rosemary, in Cape Girardeau. He retired from Biokyowa as a plant manager and formerly worked at Marquette Cement as a plant manager for 10 years.