Jackson mayor faces a challenger in the April election

Residents of Jackson will have a decision to make when they elect a mayor April 7.

Incumbent Mayor Barbara Lohr, who ran unopposed in 2013 for her third term, will face challenger Dwain Hahs in the upcoming election. Hahs cited requests and encouragement from friends and leaders in business and the community leaders for his decision to run for the city's highest office.

"I just really wanted to give back to the city where I grew up," he said during a Friday phone interview. "And I think the most important thing is I want to create a proactive atmosphere in the community with my leadership."

If he is elected, he said he would bring many years of international business experience. Hahs retired from Bausch & Lomb in 2008 after more than 30 years with the company.

He lived in Europe and Asia at various times, serving in different positions, including vice president of marketing for the international division and senior vice president and president of the Asia region in Hong Kong.

Barbara Lohr

He's president of Stonehenge Management LLC, a family investment company.

Locally, Hahs has served as a member of the Jackson R-2 School Foundation Board, president of Jackson Rotary Club, a member of the Jackson Industrial Development Co. board, adjunct professor in the MBA program in Southeast Missouri State University's Harrison College of Business and chairman of the University Foundation board of directors. He was selected by the Cape Girardeau County Commission to serve on the citizen advisory board that soon will recommend a plan for the future of county facilities.

Lohr, in addition to her tenure as mayor, won the R.A. Fulenwider Award in 2013 for community service.

She once served on the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors and on the Jackson City Council.

The race for other Jackson city positions has been quiet so far. In the board of aldermen race, incumbents Wanda Young, David Hitt and Tom Kimbel are unopposed. Ward 3 Alderman Mark Dambach is not seeking re-election. Katy Liley was the only candidate to file in that ward as of Friday morning.

Filing for municipal elections closes at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

srinehart@semissourian.com

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