Two file for Ward 6 positions

Two candidates have filed for the Ward 6 seat on the Cape Girardeau City Council, meaning there will be opposition in every race in the April elections.

Marcia Ritter and Walt Wildman have both filed for the Ward 6, being vacated by Richard "Butch" Eggimann. Ritter filed Friday and Wildman returned his petition Monday morning.

Citing skills in administration, conflict resolution and fiscal budgeting, Ritter announced her candidacy.

"I believe I have the skills that can be used," she said.

Ritter isn't filing on any particular platform of issues but knows that the city needs good leadership for the future.

"Even though you are elected by the people in your ward, you have to look at the whole of the city for the needs of the future," Ritter said.

Ritter retired from a career in health care management three years ago to begin volunteer medical mission work with her husband, Dr. C. John Ritter. Now the couple has returned home, and Ritter said she has the time to devote to work for the city.

"I can give the time, not just to attend the meetings, but to do research and find what the needs are," she said.

Walt Wildman

Wildman, 56, of 3905 Valley View Lane said his years of working with city government make him a qualified candidate. Wildman, a marketing manager at Cape Imaging MRI, served on the Convention and Visitor's Bureau and 10 years as a lobbyist for the I-66 project.

Wildman, a native of Piedmont, Mo., also was a city councilman in Van Buren, Mo.

Wildman plans to run on a platform of fiscal responsibility, which he thinks is especially important at a time when the city is looking at a potentially multi-million tax package to pay for what it says is growing city needs.

"One of my concerns is to make sure money being spent now is being spent effectively and efficiently before going to voters to ask for a tax increase of any kind," he said. "Tax increases should be a last resort."

Ritter is a native of Cape Girardeau and has lived in Ward 6 for 14 years. She is a member the Cape County Mental Health Mill Tax Board and serves on the Cape Area Family Resource Center board.

She also has served in professional and service organizations like the American Heart Association board, the health and human services committee of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and Excelsior Optimist and Zonta Professional Women's organizations. She is a member of Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church.

City clerk Gayle Conrad said two others have picked up petitions. If they file by the Nov. 20 deadline, a primary election would be necessary in Ward 6.

City voters already face a mayoral primary in February because three candidates have filed for that post. The candidates are Jay Knudtson, a banking executive, Walter White, a small business owner, and Melvin Gateley, a former school administrator and former city councilman.

Other council candidates are incumbent Frank Stoffregen and Evelyn Boardman in Ward 1 and Charlie Herbst and George Reutzel in Ward 2.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126

smoyers@semissourian.com

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