Rediger wins Cape mayoral race with 63 percent of vote

Retired businessman Harry Rediger won a landslide victory Tuesday to become mayor of Cape Girardeau.

Rediger, 73, defeated former city councilman Matt Hopkins, taking 63 percent of the vote and carrying all but two of Cape Girardeau's 19 precincts. Hopkins won by a narrow margin only in the two precincts that produced the lowest number of votes in the contest.

Rediger will replace banker Jay Knudtson, who must step aside due to term limits. Surrounded by family and supporters at Celebrations Downtown, Rediger said he planned to call on Hopkins, as well as retiring council members Marcia Ritter and Charlie Herbst, to help him as he leads the city over the next four years.

Rediger was Knudtson's campaign treasurer in 2002, and in return Knudtson worked to help elect Rediger. Rediger praised Knudtson for eight years of accomplishment and said he intends to build on that success.

"We are going to move ahead and get started," Rediger told supporters. "We have a very good road map."

The path for the next four years will be guided by the DREAM Initiative plan for the Broadway, downtown and Good Hope-Haarig areas, Rediger said.

"The plate has been set; we just have to act on it," Rediger said.

Many voters interviewed after casting ballots cited personal ties as the reason for their decision. David Kunz, who voted at Westminster Presbyterian Church, said he voted for Rediger because of a long-term friendship.

"I've known Harry for almost 20 years, and he has obviously done a lot for the community already," Kunz said.

Cathy Seiler, voting at the Arena Building, said she selected Hopkins because he is the younger of the two candidates. "I wanted to get somebody younger because we need younger, fresher ideas," she said.

Rediger is retired from a career with J.C. Penney. A transplant to Cape Girardeau, Rediger has been on the boards of several community service groups, ranging from the 10 years as chairman of the Saint Francis Medical Center Board of Directors to a term as chairman of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce.

Rediger also touted his experience in city hall, with 21 years on the city Planning and Zoning Commission, as he sought the city's top job.

"I think it is going to move forward in the same manner with a little different slant," said Moe Sandfort, community bank president for Bank of Missouri. "He is a manager with the belief that his staff can do the job."

Hopkins was clearly disappointed in the outcome but did not want to talk about what cost him the election.

Hopkins represented Ward 5 on the council from 2000 to 2008. A representative for Technology & Networking, Hopkins ran a race focused on organized growth, his experience in city hall with budgets and downtown revitalization efforts.

Hopkins called Rediger to congratulate him before all the votes had been counted, but by that time it the outcome was clear. "I told him congratulations, and I wished him well," Hopkins said. "I have always been pro-Cape Girardeau. Cape Girardeau is the greatest city there is, and I have always done what is needed."

rkeller@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO

Precinct results

Precinct Harry Rediger Matt Hopkins

1 -- Red Star 140 132

2 -- Westminster 474 245

4 -- Centenary 129 62

6 -- Grace 200 139

7 -- Arena 281 140

8 -- City Hall 115 88

9 -- Church of Christ 22 34

12 -- House of Hope 33 38

13 -- Bethany 278 179

14 -- St. Andrew Lutheran 196 143

15 -- Bethany 305 202

16 -- La Croix 608 256

17 -- Arena 522 272

18 -- Fellowship 211 136

Absentee 112 36

Total 3626 2102