KASTEN IN RACE FOR CAPE COUNTY PRESIDING COMMISSIONER

JACKSON -- After months of campaigning, Mike Kasten believes he has reached the fun part of his campaign to become Cape Girardeau County presiding commissioner.

Not much remains except attending events and meeting people. "This is the part of the campaign I really enjoy," said Kasten, who stresses his business experience, a need for long-term planning, and economic development in his first bid for public office.

"I have always been interested and involved in a lot of things pertaining to government, and have always felt government closest to home was the best form of government," said Kasten. "Cape County has been good to me and I wanted an opportunity to do this.

"I am very much a fiscal conservative, but open minded to things we need to do to make the county better. We need to look to the future, particularly our upcoming move to 1st class county status, and be careful that we don't create more government than we need."

Kasten, 39, lives in Jackson with wife, Priscilla. He operates a cattle ranch in Cape and Bollinger counties that he started at the age of 13. He also serves on the board of directors of Kasten Masonry Sales, Kasten Concrete Products, and Kasten Clay Products.

Kasten is no stranger to the political arena. His mother, state Rep. Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau, has served in the Missouri House since 1983. Before that she served 20 years on the Cape Girardeau Board of Education. His father, Dr. Melvin Kasten, is in his first term on the Cape Girardeau City Council.

Kasten also has been active politically by lobbying for legislation in Jefferson City and Washington, D.C., to help the state's $1.2-billion-a-year cattle industry. Kasten said experience gives him knowledge of all levels of government and makes him sensitive to the impact of state and federal government on the local level.

"Mandates coming down to the county are a big concern of mine, and a big part of this job is working with state and federal legislators to keep as much control of our local lives as we can," said Kasten.

Since no Democrat filed for presiding commissioner, the winner of the Aug. 2 Republican primary will be elected in November. Gerald Jones of Jackson and Howard Tooke of Cape Girardeau are the other candidates; Commissioner Gene Huckstep did not seek re-election.

If elected, Kasten said he would enact a long-term plan of at least five years for the county. "A plan will let people see what we are going to do so they can base their lives and businesses and judgments on what the county is going to do," said Kasten.

He said he would also formalize the county's capital trust account and divide it into two funds, one for an emergency reserve and another for capital improvements.

"I don't know how much we need for a permanent reserve, but I think that is where long term planning comes in," said Kasten. "We never want to put the county in financial jeopardy. Our emergency fund would probably be set at some percentage of the annual budget."

By formalizing guidelines for using the capital trust funds, Kasten said that will insure reserves are kept in the future and that all county commissions have to justify use of the funds.

Kasten believes the best way to keep the county in sound financial condition is to keep business growing. He said economic development efforts should be targeted not only at bringing new businesses to the area, but at helping businesses expand.

Kasten said he would keep an open mind in leading Cape County to 1st class status in the next few years because many of the provisions of higher-class government are things the county may do but is not required to do.

Two years ago voters in Cape County rejected a zoning ordinance, and in so doing also repealed county planning. Kasten said since citizens voted it out, he would not favor putting the issue to another vote unless there was strong sentiment from citizens to do so.

Kasten is doubtful about the chances of a proposed lake in Cape and Bollinger counties. The issue died four years ago, but some residents of the two counties have talked about reviving the idea.

"I have been involved in a lot of environmental things on the national level, and until we see how the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act are renewed, and there is a change in administration policies, I think the likelihood of a lake is very slim," said Kasten.

Kasten said if the issue were to be revived he would make no comments on the project since he owns land around the lake area.

Kasten is a member of Farm Bureau, served on agriculture advisory committees for Sen. Christopher Bond and former Gov. John Ashcroft, and was a member of the Southeast Missouri State University Agricultural Advisory Committee from 1990-92.

A lifetime resident of Cape County, Kasten is a graduate of Central High School, attended the University of Missouri, is a lifetime member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church, served as a SEMO District Fair superintendent for 10 years, and was on the Production Credit Association's advisory committee. Kasten's wife is employed by Roerig Division of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.

Presiding commissioner at a glance

District: All of Cape Girardeau County.

Duties: Serves as the chief budget officer for county government, chief administrator of the county, and along with two associate commissioners makes up the county's administrative body.

Term: Two years.

Salary: $25,000.

Candidates: Republicans Mike Kasten, Howard C. Tooke and Gerald Jones. No Democrats filed. Incumbent Gene E. Huckstep, a Republican, is retiring after 16 years in office.