RUOPP, FOX EARN POSITIONS ON CAPE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Two Cape Girardeau dentists were elected to seats on the Cape Girardeau Board of Education.

Incumbent Patrick Ruopp was re-elected to serve a fifth term with an overwhelming victory, earning 5,023 votes. Robert G. Fox was elected to his first term with 3,854 votes.

The two won out of a field of six candidates vying for the two three-year terms.

Other candidates in the race were Stephen Naeter, 1,482 votes; Addie Marie Walker, 2,317; Bill Hopkins, 2,363; and Jack L. Sterrett, 2,019.

Incumbent Gwen Bennett did not seek re-election.

"Three more years," said Patrick Ruopp, after the results were in. "I'm real pleased. It went much better than I expected that it would. I'm very pleased and very appreciative of all the people who supported me. Now it's back to the grind."

Ruopp said the top issue facing the district is funding.

"We've got to do some concentration on repealing this Proposition C rollback and think in terms of the finances, where to get additional money and how to maintain our buildings," Ruopp said.

"And we've got to see if we can build a school."

Ruopp said this election, his fifth, was important to him. "You look for signs that people are concerned about what you are doing and support what you are doing. I guess this is one of those signs. People feel we're moving in the right direction. And I hope as a board we are moving in the right direction and as a school district we are moving in the right direction.

First-time office holder Fox said: "I'm very happy it's over. There were a lot of good candidates and I think everyone had issues they were interested in. Any of the candidates would have made good school board members. But I'm very pleased."

"I'm ready to go to work," Fox said. "We have a lot of issues facing us.

"I think the number one issue is to go to the public, be honest with them and try to get this Proposition C rollback (waiver) passed to try to get some funds."