SANDER TO RUN AGAIN FOR MAYOR OF JACKSON

JACKSON -- Jackson Mayor Paul W. Sander will run for a fourth term in the general election in April.

"I would like to continue serving the citizens of Jackson as mayor and see the completion of current and future projects," he said.

"We have accomplished much these last several years, but there is still much work to be done."

The filing period for mayor and four aldermanic seats begins at 8 a.m. today and continues through Jan. 19. The seats up for election include David Hitt's in Ward 1, Kerry Hoffman's in Ward 2, Valerie Tuschhoff's in Ward 3 and Larry Hall's in Ward 4.

The terms for both aldermen and the mayor run two years.

Based on the city's total assets versus total debt, Jackson is in the best financial shape ever, Sander said.

"The bottom line plays out better than it has in history," Sander said.

"I am proud to run for re-election on a record of progress and growth," he said, citing a number of projects the city has undertaken under his leadership. Among them:

-- The purchase of 60 acres for an industrial tract.

-- The acquisition of a $500,000 grant for infrastructure improvements at Lee-Rowan, which will add 100 new jobs at the Jackson plant.

-- Cooperative efforts with Cape Girardeau and Cape Girardeau County.

-- The city's new comprehensive plan, which hadn't been updated since 1981.

-- Water and sewer system improvements in the amount of $10 million.

Sander said he enjoys the job of mayor and marshaling the city's continued growth. Jackson is one of Southeast Missouri's fastest-growing communities.

"I take pride in responding to concerns and ideas of our citizens," he said. "One hundred percent of the public cannot be made happy by every decision of the council. But I work for what I feel is in the best interest of Jackson with no special interests in mind."

This year the Jackson Chamber of Commerce presented Sander with the R.A. Fulenwider Award for meritorious service to the community. In 1994 he was named one of the Top Ten Outstanding Missourians by the Missouri Jaycees.

He serves on the boards of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce and Southeast Missouri Hospital.

Sander is the son of Alene Sander and the late Leonard Sander, a former Cape Girardeau County commissioner. He and his wife, Pam, have two sons, Sam and Spencer.

Sander writes a monthly newspaper column about the state of the city and said he wants to continue working to keep Jackson "a clean, respected and beautiful town.

"Jackson has become the place to be in Southeast Missouri," he said.