THREE CANDIDATES ENTER SCOTT CITY COUNCIL RACES

SCOTT CITY -- Two councilman and a teacher have filed for seats on the Scott City Council.

Ron Oller, Ward 3 councilman, and John Rogers, Ward 2, filed for re-election this week. LaDonna Phelps, a teacher at Scott City High School, has filed for a Ward 1 seat currently held by Jim McClintock.

For Phelps, a native of Scott City, it will be her first run for an elected office. She said she decided to run for a council seat to bring some fresh ideas to city government.

"I think many people here would like to see some changes," Phelps said. "To do that we need some new people."

Phelps said faith in city government needs to be restored. She said recent conflicts have left residents feeling like they have no say in city matters.

"I think there are a lot of good things in this town, but we need to re-establish people's faith and belief in their leaders," she said. "I'd like to try to have more citizen input into issues. That's my biggest concern."

Phelps was a member of the committee that helped study the proposed house renumbering plan in the city. She said serving on that committee showed her that people need to feel like their city leaders care about them.

"Those aren't just house numbers, those are people," she said. "To some of them, changing their house number was just like moving. You can't leave out people's feelings."

Phelps, 43, and her husband, David have two children, Blake, 18, and Tandra, 13. She is a former adviser for the Boy Scouts, former president of the swim team and a former softball coach.

Oller, 34, filed for his second term on the council. He was first elected in 1990 for a two-year term. Oller said he sees some changes ahead in the city.

"I'd like to see some departments upgraded," he said. "I'm on the public works committee and see how hard those guys work. There's a real good attitude in that department and I'd like to see that duplicated in other departments."

Oller said he'd like to see less "bickering" among city officials and more cooperation.

"I'd really just like to continue working to improve the city. People just need to get along and do their jobs," he said.

Oller and wife, Darlene, have three children, Barry, 18, Ryan, 10, and Robin, 8. He works at Mine Weld-Hill Inc. in Cape Girardeau.

Rogers, 50, filed Thursday for re-election to his Ward 2 seat. He is a native of Scott City, and he and his wife, JoAnn, have one son, Tracy. He owns a construction business.

Rogers said he filed for a second term because "two years isn't enough to really help the city as an alderman.

"You've got a learning period in there and even though I was on the council during the consolidation, I think you should stay a little longer than two years."

Earlier this week, Larry Forhan, 45, a Scott City businessman, filed for mayor. Forhan is a former mayor of Ste. Genevieve. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Scott City in 1990 and was defeated by Shirley Young.

Young has not filed yet for re-election and has not said if she will.

Edith Davidson, 76, also filed for the one-year unexpired term of Jim Cauble in Ward 2.

The filing period opened Tuesday and continues until Dec. 31. The election is scheduled for April, and if more than one candidate files for any one seat, a primary election will be held in March.