STOVALL PREPARES TO BEGIN COUNTY COMMISSION JOB

When talking about his narrow defeat in the 1994 election for a seat on the Cape Girardeau County Commission, Max Stovall is quick to come up with a reason.

"I blame myself for not trying a little harder during the final week of the election last time," Stovall said.

Not making the same mistake twice, Stovall pulled off a political turnaround to claim victory in 1996.

Stovall will be sworn in to office as the 2nd District county commissioner Tuesday at the County Administration Building in Jackson.

In the 1994 race, Democrat Stovall came up short by a mere 39 votes to fellow Cape Girardean Joe Gambill, a Republican. Considering the small margin of his defeat, Stovall felt he remained a viable candidate for the office two years later.

Stovall, 72, hit the campaign trail harder the second time around to spend more time meeting with voters and listening to their concerns. His efforts paid off and he defeated Gambill in the rematch by 486 votes.

Though he won't take office until after the first of the year, Stovall has been actively working with the commission since the election so he can hit the ground running when he officially assumes his duties.

His soon-to-be colleagues -- Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones, who was not up for re-election, and 1st District Commissioner Larry Bock, who ran unopposed -- have been helpful as they make the transition in commission members, Stovall said.

His former opponent, whom Stovall considers "a good friend," has also helped to make the change happen smoothly.

"They have been very cooperative, especially Commissioner Gambill," Stovall said. "He's promised to lend a helping hand if I ever need it."

Stovall is a retired contractor. He served for several years with the Greater Cape Girardeau Area Development Corp., which developed the industrial area near the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. He was also a trustee at Southeast Missouri Hospital for 18 years and member of the Missouri Veterans' Home board for four years.

He held his only previous elective office from 1956-60 when he was superintendent of public works for the city of Cape Girardeau.

Stovall said he feels the county is in good financial shape and not facing any major crises in the near future.

The work of the new county planning and zoning commission will likely be one of the more controversial items the County Commission will deal with this year. The planning and zoning board was formed earlier this month. It replaces a similar panel dissolved by voters in 1992.

"My opinion is that orderly growth is always a good thing. If the planning and zoning commission can come up with a good recommendation, we will consider putting it to a vote of the people," Stovall said.

Any plan the group develops must be approved by the voters. Stovall said it is important the planning board keep its proposed regulations reasonable -- providing the county with a mechanism to control construction growth but not posing an undue burden on residents.

"If the plan doesn't suit the commission, we will not even put it up for a vote," Stovall said.

Stovall also looks forward to his duties overseeing the maintenance and improvement of county facilities and county parks.

"Being in construction should make it easier in looking after buildings in the county," Stovall said.

Stovall has some major capital projects in mind for the county parks but said he is not prepared to unveil them publicly.

Outgoing Commissioner Gambill will continue to work closely with the commission.

Jones appointed him to serve on a finance committee to study issues involved with building a 96-bed addition to the County Jail in Jackson. Officials hope to break ground on the project by the end of 1997.

However, when asked if he will ever again seek elective office, Gambill laughingly said, "I doubt that very much."

In his spare time he will continue to serve as a consultant for Biokyowa Inc. in Cape Girardeau. He was plant manager there for 11 years before retiring.

"I have enjoyed my two years serving on the commission, and came away with a much greater respect for the county itself, the elected officials and the staff," Gambill said. "They are good people with their hearts in the right place."