MAX STOVALL UPSETS JOE GAMBILL

In a surprise upset against Republican incumbent Joe Gambill, Max Stovall, a Democrat, took the lead in the election for 2nd District county commissioner in Cape Girardeau County, winning by 468 votes. Stovall had 6,384 votes, and Gambill received 5,916. The race had been close in the last election in 1994 between the same two candidates, with Gambill winning by just 39 votes.

Stovall, 72, was jubilant about the election results, celebrating at Democratic headquarters. He said he was pleasantly surprised, but all his hard work had paid off.

"I want to represent the whole county and try to make things better for everyone," Stovall said.

Stovall spent 46 years as a local contractor. He served on several committees in Cape Girardeau, including the Greater Cape Girardeau Development Corp. He also was superintendent of public works for the city.

He plans to continue with the development of the parks and wants to upgrade the county building, among other things.

"Being an ex-contractor, it will be easy for me to do," he said of the proposed changes.

John Jordan, the incumbent sheriff and a Republican, won hi re-election by more than 5,000 votes over Benny Hinton, a Democrat. Jordan had 16,724 votes to Hinton's 10,580 votes.

Jordan was elected in a special election two years ago, serving the remainder of the four-year term after Norman Copeland retired.

Jordan, 35, has been a law enforcement officer for more than 16 years. He has been an active member in the community, serving on the Seniors and Lawmen Together Council and creating the first Triad Chapter in Missouri.

Jordan celebrated his victory at a party at Holiday Inn.

"I'm real thrilled the voters have chosen me to be the sheriff again," Jordan said. "I feel we're making a difference in the quality of life for the citizens in Cape County."

He felt the election results were due in part to his opponent's negative ads toward the end of the campaign. Jordan claims the voters were sending a message to him.

Jordan said he was grateful for his wife's work in the re-election bid. She campaigned for him and knocked on doors while raising two small children at home.

For the office of public administrator, Republican incumbent John Ferguson won with 15,706 votes over Democrat Wanda Conrad, who had just 10,387 votes.

Ferguson, 62, has been in office for eight years. He said wasn't surprised by the election results and doesn't plan to make any major changes in office. He will continue to run what he feels is a low-key, non-publicized office.

Ferguson, a Methodist minister, had a quiet evening at home with his wife, who baked a cake for the victory celebration.