SANDER WILL SEEK A NINTH TERM AS CAPE COUNTY COMMISSIONER

JACKSON - Leonard F. Sander, who is starting his 16th year as 1st District associate commissioner of Cape Girardeau County, has announced plans to seek a ninth two-year term this year.

A lifelong resident of the Jackson area with more than 30 years business experience in that community, Sander said he plans to file as a Republican candidate on Tuesday. The 1st District includes Jackson, the outcounty area, and Ward 17 in the city of Cape Girardeau.

Throughout his tenure on the county commission, Sander has overseen the county's highway department, which maintains over 600 miles of county roads and several hundred bridges.

"In seeking re-election, I plan to continue to serve as commissioner on a fulltime basis with no outside business interests," said Sander. "I also plan to continue our aggressive bridge repair and replacement program."

During his time in office, Sander pointed out that 41 major bridges have been constructed. Two more are under way over Caney Fork and at Whitewater; they should be completed later this year.

Sander said he would continue to work toward upgrading the highway department's fleet of vehicles and heavy equipment so that the fleet is in good condition and able to do road work efficiently.

A few years ago, Sander initiated a dust control program on county roads, with the costs being shared between the county and residents. Sander said he hopes to continue that program, which now covers about 60 miles of roads.

Sander said the county's financial picture is sound, and he pledged to continue working with the other commissioners and county officials to keep the county on sound footing.

"It is also a major goal of mine to make sure that Cape County maintains its positive financial condition for years to come," said Sander. "I really enjoy the work we do on the county commission and I'm available at any time to help the citizens of Cape County in any way I can."

During his time on the commission, Sander noted that he is pleased to have implemented a county road marker system and to have been part of a commission that has had a zero general revenue property tax levy for 10 years. He noted that the county was able to build a new administration building without a tax increase.

Sander is a member of the Missouri Association of Counties and the Missouri County Commissioners Association. He represents the county commission on the University of Missouri Extension Council, the county planning and zoning commission, and the East Missouri Action Agency board.

Last year, Sander received the "R.A. Fulenwider Memorial Award" from the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, for outstanding service to the community. In 1990, he received the Humanitarian Award from the Professional Black Men's Club of Southeast Missouri and is a past winner of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce "Friend of Agriculture Award."

Sander is a past president of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, a past member of the Jackson Board of Aldermen, and a member of Cape County Farm Bureau.

He and his wife, Aleene, are members of New McKendree Methodist Church. They have two sons: Fritz, of Edina, Minn., and Paul, an alderman in Jackson.