Invalid petition forces council hopeful Reutzel out of race

An invalid petition has bounced Cape Girardeau City Council candidate George Reutzel from the April 2 general election, leaving former community police officer Charlie Herbst to become the next Ward 2 councilman.

City manager Michael Miller said Monday that Reutzel's petition was invalid because of the 60 signatures submitted six were from people not registered to vote and 13 were not from Ward 2.

Miller said 50 signatures from voters within the ward are required to be on the ballot.

Reutzel said Monday he was disappointed because he specifically asked each of the people who signed his petition if they were registered voters from within Ward 2, which encompasses the southeastern part of the city.

"It just lets me know that a lot of people in town don't know if they're registered voters or not," Reutzel said. "It's frustrating."

But Reutzel said Herbst will be a good councilman.

"I can't say anything, because there is a good man taking over that ward anyway," he said. "I back Charlie 100 percent."

The seat currently is held by Councilman Tom Neumeyer, but term limits prohibit Neumeyer from seeking another term.

Shifting gears

Herbst said he can now shift from campaign mode to fact gathering.

"I can worry less about winning the election and begin doing a little background work so when it's my turn to be on the council I can have a better idea of what some of the problems are," said Herbst.

Herbst worked 10 years for the Cape Girardeau Police Department and he is still a reserve officer. He now works full time at Innovative Idea Integration in Jackson, Mo., in the sales and marketing department.

Herbst had already bought 100 yard signs and will hold one fund raiser to pay for those, he said.

"But other than that, this is changing my scope a bit," he said. "I'm going to start to attend council meetings and study sessions."

Maybe later

The 45-year-old Reutzel, who owns GWR Contracting, wouldn't rule out a future bid.

"It's possible," he said. "It depends on the circumstances and decisions made by the council. I'll be watching."

The other council races remain set.

The three-man mayoral race will require a primary Feb. 2 that will whittle the number of contenders to two. The candidates for mayor are former educator Melvin Gateley, banker Jay Knudtson and Walter White, who works at Superior Essex Co. in Sikeston, Mo.

In Ward 1, incumbent Frank Stoffregen will face antique-shop owner Evelyn Boardman. In Ward 6, former health-care manager Marcia Ritter will face Walt Wildman, a marketing manager at Cape Imaging MRI.

smoyers@semissourian.com

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