JACKSON RACES: HITT, SEABAUGH FILE FOR CITY, SHCOOL BOARD POSITIONS

JACKSON - Two more candidates have filed for municipal and school board offices in Jackson.

They are:

- David Hitt, for Jackson alderman, Ward 1

- David Seabaugh, for Jackson School Board

Hitt, 41, of 601 Otto Drive, is a life-long resident of Jackson. He has lived in Ward 1 for 12 years and is running for the vacancy created by incumbent Ward 1 Alderman Paul Sander's decision to run for mayor.

Hitt is a graduate of Jackson High School and received his bachelor's degrees in business administration and business education from Southeast Missouri State University.

Hitt has been a full-time member of the Missouri Army National Guard's 1140th Combat Engineer Battalion based at Cape Girardeau for 18 years. He is a Vietnam veteran and a charter member of VFW Post 10495.

For the past nine years, Hitt has served on the Jackson Park Board and has been a Missouri State High School football official for 13 years.

Hitt is a member of the board of directors of the Southeast Missouri Easter Seals Center in Cape Girardeau, past member of the Breakfast Optimist Club of Jackson and future member of the Jackson Elks.

His wife, Janet, is a fourth-grade teacher at West Lane Elementary School. They have three children.

"I was approached by several members in the community about becoming a candidate for the board of aldermen. I have decided that it is something that I would really like to do," Hitt said in a prepared statement.

"I have been interested in city government for the past 10-12 years. I have served on the Jackson Park Board for nine years and was the board chairman for six of the nine years. It was a very enjoyable experience and introduced me to the many complexities of city government.

"I understand the importance of meeting budget restrictions and the need to work with not only the community but with city employees and civic organizations."

Hitt noted some of the achievements of the park board during the past nine years include the development of Litz Park, purchase of Brookside Park, development of several ball diamonds and pavilions in the main city park, development of several soccer fields and construction of a new park building. "These improvements were the result of the efforts of the community working together," Hitt continued. "If elected, I will strive to continue to call on the many fine citizens of Jackson to become involved in community affairs. It is their city, and as a team, we can make Jackson even better."

Seabaugh, 35, owns and operates with his wife, the former Connie Schaper, a 360-acre, row-crop farm, located along Highway 25, south of Jackson. They have four children: Kirsten, 20, a student at Southeast Missouri State University; Kalisha, 18, a student at Columbia College in Columbia; Kordel, 17, a junior at Jackson High School; and Kenesia, 14, an eighth grade student at R.O. Hawkins Junior High School.

Seabaugh is a 1976 graduate of Jackson High School and attended Southeast Missouri State University.

Seabaugh said he decided to run for school board after being encouraged by several area residents.

"If elected, I want to make sure Jackson schools do not suffer the decline in education and discipline that is troubling many other school districts," Seabaugh said in a prepared statement. "I would also like to see the current school tax levy remain at the same level.

"This is important to attract new industry to the area. The tax base must be stable and as low as possible, yet sufficient to maintain a quality school system."

If elected, Seabaugh said he would encourage the athletic department to recognize the need for athletes to have part-time jobs. He also believes all students who graduate from the Jackson school system should be computer-literate or have the basic skills needed to operate a computer.

Seabaugh also believes all courses should have an important educational value to students.

"I do not believe in `easy credit' courses just to get more credits for graduation," he explained. "I would also like to see as many courses as possible that offer students college credit."

At this time, races have developed for Jackson mayor, where Alderman Paul Sander is challenging 11-term incumbent Mayor Carlton Meyer; Ward 1, where Hitt is opposed by another newcomer, Vicki Abernathy; and Ward 3, where incumbent Alderman Val Tuschhoff is opposed by Robert "Butch" Wright.

In Ward 2, incumbent Kevin Sawyer is the only candidate to file for a full term. Dave Reiminger has filed for the one-year, unexpired term of Ward 2 Alderman Phil Johnston, who will leave office following the April 6 election.

Neither Ward 4 Alderman Jack Piepenbrok or City Collector Beverly Nelson are opposed at this time.

A race has developed for the three seats on the Jackson School Board. In addition to Seabaugh, other candidates who have filed include the incumbent, Darrell Hanschen, and newcomers, Mark Martin and Kelle A. Lane.

Candidates for city offices may file Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., at the city clerk's office. School board candidates may file during weekdays, from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., at the school district administrative offices on South Oklahoma.

The filing deadline for municipal and school board offices is Feb. 2.