SANDER RE-ELECTED AT JACKSON

JACKSON -- Jackson voters chose experience and staying the course Tuesday in handily re-electing incumbent Mayor Paul Sander and three incumbent aldermen opposed by first-time candidates.

Running for his fourth term as mayor, Sander drew 2,186 votes to 1,053 for opponent Scott Lipke, an attorney running for public office for the first time.

Also easily re-elected were Ward 1 Alderman David Hitt, with 584 votes to opponent Don Harris' 281; Ward 2 Alderman Kerry Hoffman, who had 484 votes to Richard Rushin's 299; and Ward 3 Alderman Valerie Tuschoff, who tallied 559 votes to 237 for Chris Bowen.

Ward 4 Alderman Larry Hall, who was unopposed, was re-elected with 566 votes.

A remarkable 43 percent of registered voters turned out for the election in Jackson.

Lipke saw the big turnout as a positive outcome of his losing campaign. "If that's the worst thing that comes out of this election, we got people involved," he said.

"Obviously I wanted to win. But I think the citizens of Jackson are better off after this election. I think the numbers show that."

Tuschoff was at the Cape Girardeau County Clerk's office awaiting the returns Tuesday night.

She beamed when her totals were posted.

"It feels wonderful," she said. "I want to thank all my friends for supporting me. I think they have confidence in us," she said of the Jackson voters.

Hoffman thanked the voters of Ward 2 and the city "for having confidence in me in leading the growth of Jackson.

"Our growth is going to happen ... and we've got plans put in place to handle that," he said.

Hitt, Cape Girardeau County's emergency preparedness director, was attending a safety conference out of town and could not be reached for comment.