HOMEMAKER THIRD TO FILE IN CITY'S WARD 2 ELECTION

Brenda Dohogne of 319 N. Main became the third candidate to file for election in Cape Girardeau's Ward 2.

Dohogne, 44, is a homemaker and civic volunteer. With her filing Thursday, Ward 2 becomes the second of three wards up for election in April that will have to have a February primary.

Other candidates in the ward are Tom Neumeyer of 25 S. Lorimier and Joseph Sampson of 210 S. Frederick. At least two other potential candidates from Ward 2 have election petitions.

Today is the last day to file election petitions. So far, Ward 1 has two candidates, James "J.J." Williamson and Frank Stoffregen; Ward 6 has three, Dennis Dobson, Jay Knudtson and Richard Eggimann; and the mayor's race a single candidate, Councilman Melvin Gateley.

Dohogne, 44, said she was encouraged to run after city voters last fall approved the ballot measure to switch from at-large council elections to a ward system of government.

"Since then, I was approached by some members of one of Cape's civic organizations and by individuals who I respect highly, who encouraged me to run," she said. "I prayed about it and decided to go ahead and run."

Dohogne identified four issues the city council should take a close look at during the next four years: riverboat gambling revenues, solid waste service, zoning laws and a proposed minimum property maintenance code.

"I'm aware of the fact that the present city council is one of the most likely to select a riverboat gambling vendor," she said. "But city councils in the future are responsible to see to it that both the city of Cape and the riverboat vendor abide very strictly by the contract.

"Everything should be in writing so the city of Cape can benefit from riverboat gambling to the fullest extent."

Dohogne said she plans to present a proposal at the city council's Dec. 20 meeting that would provide an alternative to the city's trash service billing.

The council will have a public hearing Dec. 20 on a proposed $1.46 per month hike in residential trash bills.

"There are so many people on fixed incomes who cannot absorb any more," Dohogne said. "This $1.46 increase that the city is proposing is the third increase in three years and nine months, and people are just outraged by it."

She said she also would like the council to direct the city's planning and zoning commission to revise some items in the zoning code.

"I think problems like allowing group homes in residential neighborhoods in some of the older sections of town could be eliminated if the zoning ordinance was updated," she said.

Dohogne said she also favors adoption of a minimum property maintenance code. Such a law was recommended this year by the city administration and the board of appeals, but the council has yet to approve the measure.

"I think it's very necessary not only for the safety of citizens but also in prohibiting deteriorated property from devaluing neighboring property," she said. "It's a problem in the older parts of the city, and it's a problem in Ward 2.

"It's like a slow-growing cancer that creeps out house by house and eventually affects a very large area."

Dohogne attends Lynwood Baptist Church. As a homemaker, she said she has a flexible schedule that would allow her to devote her time to the city council.

Dohogne is an active volunteer at Washington School. She's been president of the PTA and serves on the school's executive council. She also coordinates the volunteer "Comer Project," aimed at increasing parents' involvement in their children's education.

Dohogne was appointed in the summer to the Cape Girardeau Housing Assistance Task Force, a group established by the council to consider low-income housing needs in the city.

She's also a den leader for the Cub Scouts, and was a facilitator for the Project Charlie anti-drug program at Washington School. Her other volunteer work includes efforts on behalf of the American Cancer Society.

Dohogne and her husband, Tom, have two sons, Tommy, 11, and Aaron, 8. They have lived in Ward 2 for the past 13 years.