SECOND CANDIDATE FILES FOR WARD 1 CITY COUNCIL SEAT

Frank Stoffregen of 223 Capaha Trail is the second candidate in Ward 1 to file for a Cape Girardeau City Council seat that's up for election in April.

Stoffregen, 39, is a life-long resident of Cape Girardeau County and has lived at Capaha Trail in the city's northeast side since 1990.

He said his decision to run for council was prompted by a desire to serve his community.

"I've always lived and worked here, I've got a family now, and I care about where the city's going," Stoffregen said. "I have an interest and stake in the community of my roots."

He said he won't bring any single-issue advocacy to the council, and carries no "special-interest" baggage from any association with local organizations or groups.

"I've always been a working man, and I would bring that experience to the council," he said.

Stoffregen said some of the general issues he's concerned about are riverboat gambling and economic development.

"There's going to be a fair amount of money coming into town with the riverboat, and I hope to see it spent wisely and used on the community," he said. "I think bringing industry with better-paying jobs into Cape is an important role of the city council.

"I think there possibly have been some times in the past when some businesses didn't get the welcome mat they deserved."

Stoffregen will challenge James "J.J." Williamson for the Ward 1 seat. Candidates have until Dec. 10 to file for the three open council seats and the mayor's at-large race.

Williamson, a former state highway patrolman and now the credit manager at Heilig-Meyers Furniture store, filed last week for the seat.

Stoffregen owned and operated Cape Cycle, the local Kawasaki motorcycle dealership, for 17 years before selling the company last year. He now owns and operates the Anything & Everything store at 1625 Independence.

"Now that I have a small shop, I have time to pursue other activities," he said. "Serving the city as a councilman is one of them."

Stoffregen and his wife, Cheryl, have been married for 16 years and have two daughters, ages 11 and 13.

He graduated from Central High School in 1973, when he immediately went into business. Stoffregen also was a reserve deputy with the Cape Girardeau Sheriff's Department for four years in the 1980s.