Jackson mayoral election becomes two-person race

Fifteen minutes before the filing deadline Tuesday, Rebecca Ward slipped into the city clerk's office and quietly put her name up against one of the most powerful politicians in town.

Her signature sent ripples of chatter through city hall before Tuesday night's board of aldermen meeting. City officials were talking about the new mayoral candidate, but no one knew much about her, other than what she wrote on the form. She confirmed she was at least 25 years old and was paid up on her taxes, that she had two children named Rachel and Samuel, that she wasn't married and that she lived at 520 N. Hope St.

Whether the ripples of chatter turn into waves of change depends on the voters. They will decide the next mayor on April 5.

"I just feel like I need to," Ward, 44, said when asked why she was running against Mayor Paul Sander. Sander has been mayor since 1993 and has served on the city council since 1986.

Ward said she has always felt a need to serve the public, and now that her children, Rachel and Sam Finney, are growing older, she will have more time to do that.

Ward said she is an architect with a master's degree in heritage preservation. She has lived in Jackson for the past six years. Before that, she lived in Poplar Bluff.

Ward has not served on any city committees or boards in Jackson. She says the experience that she gained while chairing a not-for-profit committee aimed at preserving an old theater in Poplar Bluff gives her some political experience. She said that being an architect gives her knowledge about how to deal with engineers.

"I really think I could use my talents and be an asset to the city," she said. "I hope other people feel the same way."

But as far as specifics about what she'd like to accomplish as the city's top elected official, Ward wouldn't get specific, at least not yet.

"I'm not a politician," she said. She said she had some ideas but wants more time to develop them before sharing them publicly.

Ward said she's running on her own merit, and the political strength of her opponent did not factor into her decision.

But why start at the top?

"Why not?" she said.

Sander's reaction

As for Sander, he said politicians should always expect opposition. But he wouldn't hide his disappointment. He said he has been opposed four times and is no longer thrilled by the competition.

That doesn't mean he's not up for it.

"I've always believed you treat every opponent like they're Ronald Reagan," he said.

During Sander's tenure, the city has exploded in residential and commercial growth. The city has widened its tax base, increased infrastructure and expanded its park systems. The town is one of the fastest growing cities in the state.

But Sander has not served without criticism.

In August 2003, Sander was subject to an investigation that was started, based on tips, at the local level in the sheriff's department. The department obtained documents and performed interviews, then handed the case over to the Missouri attorney general's office.

The investigation centered on a situation where city workers used city equipment to locate a sewer line on property outside the city limits, property that Sander was trying to sell as a real estate agent.

City officials say equipment is occasionally offered as "good neighbor" gestures outside the city limits. According to Sander's attorney, Sander said he offered to reimburse the city, but the city administrator at the time would not accept the payment.

A spokesman for the attorney general said Wednesday there has been no change in the investigation.

bmiller@semissourian.com

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