TWO MORE FILE FOR CAPE'S UPCOMING COUNCIL ELECTION

Cape Girardeau's Ward 6 is the first of four municipal races next spring that will require a February primary.

Richard L. "Butch" Eggimann of 235 Hillview filed an election petition Tuesday, the fourth candidate to file in Ward 6 on the city's west side.

Also on Tuesday, a second candidate in the city's Ward 2 filed an election petition.

Joseph Sampson of 210 S. Frederick joins Tom Neumeyer of 25 S. Lorimier as the candidates for the April election in Ward 2. At least three other potential candidates have picked up council petitions.

Eggimann said: "I am a deeply concerned lifelong resident of Cape Girardeau who wishes to be a part of the new directions for our city."

The other Ward 6 candidates who have filed are Jay Knudtson of 1126 Cyprus Court, Dennis Dobson of 157 Pebble Lane, and Jess Hopple of 2700 Bloomfield Road.

Eggimann said he's pleased to see so much interest in the city council among residents of Ward 6.

With Friday's filing deadline fast approaching, the same number of candidates have filed in Ward 6 as in the two other council races combined.

Although Ward 6 will be a hotly contested race, it wasn't until Eggimann filed that a primary apparently was ensured.

That's because two of the candidates -- Dobson and Hopple -- faced questions regarding their eligibility for office.

On Monday, City Attorney Warren Wells said Dobson apparently will be able to run, but Hopple -- who hasn't lived in Cape Girardeau the requisite four years -- likely will be declared ineligible.

Eggimann said he looks forward to facing off with Dobson and Knudtson and any other potential Ward 6 candidates in the Feb. 8 primary.

"With the new system of council member selection by wards, I feel more community members will feel they are an integral part of city government by virtue of specific area needs and hopes being represented," he said.

"I will be open to these needs and hopes, but at the same time I will work closely with other members of the council for the common good and progress of our community."

Eggimann said he will work to "heal any alienation" voters might feel from city government.

As a city councilman, Eggimann said he will take particular interest in two issues: riverboat gambling and building regulations.

"I favor adequate controls over the gambling interests selected by the council to operate in the city, and would like to see a moratorium on any new rules and regulations affecting homeowners, builders and businesses," he said.

Sampson, 31, said that since he's decided to make Cape Girardeau his permanent home, he believes it's time to become involved.

"I moved here in 1984 to go to school, and I decided if I was going to stay around the town, I needed to get involved," he said. "I got a lot of encouragement to run from people in my ward who feel like they've had no voice on the city council."

Sampson is the administrator of Community Service Management, a private organization that administers community service and probation programs for the state courts.

He said he has no pre-set agenda for the city council.

"I want to wait until I talk with the people in the community and see what's important to them," Sampson said. "I've talked with a lot of people while gathering signatures for my petition, and the over-riding concern is that people in Ward 2 want a stronger voice in city government.

"They just want their views heard, but they also feel the whole community needs to be served."

Eggimann is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. He earned a master's degree from George Peabody College in Nashville, Tenn.

He is a former elementary school principal and superintendent at the Kelso School District. In the 1960s, he was in the appliance and LP gas business, and he also was a commercial and residential building contractor. He's currently involved with real estate.

"As a former businessman, educator and builder, I would bring a broad background of experience to the council," Eggimann said.

He's also a member of St. Vincent de Paul Parish, and he and his wife, Joan, have five children.

Sampson has a bachelor's and master's degree in criminal justice from Southeast Missouri State University. He's the past president of the Criminal Justice Association at Southeast, and also was a member of the university's marketing club.

An avid weightlifter, Sampson is president of the national champion Cape Girardeau Weightlifting Club. He also is active in the Cape Girardeau Evening Optimists.

"I immensely enjoy working with kids," he said. "I've been involved with sports since I was 5 in the St. Louis Boys Club. I feel like volunteering to help kids is a way I can pay back what I was given."

Sampson attends St. Mary's Cathedral in Cape Girardeau.

Unless more candidates file for office in Ward 1, Ward 2 and the mayor's race, Ward 6 will be the only race to have a February primary.

In Ward 1, only two candidates -- James "J.J." Williamson Jr. of 117 Centennial and Frank Stoffregen of 223 Capaha Trail -- have filed election petitions.

The mayor's seat, also up for election in April, has only one candidate to date -- current council member Melvin Gateley. There are at least two other potential candidates with petitions in that race.