Knudtson faces store owner in Cape mayoral election

~ Three amendments to the city charter are also on Tuesday's ballot.

Despite the fact that the position of mayor and three city council positions are up for grabs, the April 4 election for the city of Cape Girardeau has not been as highly contested as past campaigns.

Jay Knudtson is seeking a second term as mayor and is being challenged by Walter White, owner of Ole Country Store on Sprigg Street.

Knudtson said there are ways he could improve, giving himself a "B" for his first four years, but believes city hall has made strides economically since he took office.

"We've come a long way in mending community wounds and community relationships," he said. "I think we've been able to take a number of relationships that were strained and mend them."

White, who ran for mayor four years ago, claims that Knudtson and the city have not done enough to attract industry.

"We should have a Nissan plant in town right now," said White.

Ward Six race

In Ward Six, Marcia Ritter is running for a second term and is being challenged by Richard Hengst. Ritter said if re-elected, she will prioritize creating a new comprehensive city plan.

"It needs updating," she said. "We've had some financial and zoning issues to focus on the last four years, so we haven't had the chance to address it, but I think it's so critical right now."

Challenger Hengst decided to run after resigning from his post as commissioner of the city ethics committee. He resigned because of objections to its restrictions barring members from participating in government outside of voting, and also objected to the proposed dissolution of the committee.

Hengst could not be reached for comment for this article because he will be out of town for National Guard active duty until after Election Day.

Wards One, Two race

After two terms in office, Evelyn Boardman is stepping down from her position representing Ward One. She will be replaced by John Voss, who works for Procter & Gamble and is running unopposed.

Charlie Herbst is running unopposed in his quest for a second term representing Ward Two.

Amendments

Three amendments to the city charter will also be up for a vote. The first measure would allow the city council to fill council vacancies without a city-wide vote. Absences became an issue in 2004 when two council members, Jay Purcell and Hugh White, resigned their posts for different reasons. The resignations left the council with only five members. Five is the bare minimum needed for a super-majority required to pass certain ordinances.

"We just started thinking, we can't just let these spots stay vacant until the next election can be called," said public information manager Tracey Glenn. Glenn said the amendment requires that vacant spots be filled by someone with residency in the ward.

The second amendment asks voters to give the city the power to raise park fees and other user fees without voter approval.

City manager Doug Leslie said the ability to adjust user fees by more than five percent at these places will bring entry fees closer to covering the actual costs of park maintenance or staging events.

A third amendment calls for the dissolution of the city's seldom-used ethics commission. In the event such a commission should be needed the city could appoint a temporary commission or defer to the Missouri state ethics commission.

tgreaney@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245