Two more join race for open commission seat

The growing field of candidates seeking Larry Bock's seat on the Cape Girardeau County Commission now numbers seven.

Bock, a Republican who has held the seat since 1992, said in October that he would not seek another term in 2008. The latest entrants in the race are Stephen Daume, a Daisy cattle breeder, and Rick Shultz, a Jackson businessman working as an independent sales representative for Maintenance Engineering, a supplier of premium lighting equipment.

Bock represents District 1, which includes Jackson and most of rural Cape Girardeau County outside the city limits of Cape Girardeau. Incumbent District 2 Commissioner Jay Purcell, a Republican who plans to seek another term, has not drawn any opposition.

Daume is a lifelong resident of Cape Girardeau and is seeking the Republican nomination. In a prepared statement, Daume named several areas of concern about the county's growing population, including the condition of county roads and the need to control flooding from runoff caused by rapid development.

The District 1 commissioner is responsible for overseeing the County Highway Department. "One of the biggest challenges I believe Cape Girardeau County will face in the next several years is developing into a real First Class County," Daume said in the statement. "This will require meshing the needs of rural agriculture, including private property rights, with the planning needs of urban, suburban and county industrial development."

Among his concerns, Daume listed the need to improve safety along county roads while pursuing the paving program under a half-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2006. Narrow roads, blind corners and dangerous intersections should be part of the county's road improvement plans, Daume said.

In addition, he said the county needs to consult with schools to determine which roads to pave to lower maintenance costs on buses and to devote more attention to speed enforcement.

Schultz, 47, said in a prepared statement that he is a Jackson High School alumnus who has lived in the county for more than 30 years. The expanding population of the county means "a fresh perspective is what is needed for future growth," he said in his statement.

Schultz praised the creation of the County Road and Bridge Advisory Board as a way to bring input from each section of the county. The county needs to focus on the immediate needs for road improvements, with the next step to focus on roads that provide the greatest benefit to the entire county, he said.

Schultz and Daume join former auditor Weldon Macke of Gordonville, Semo Ag & Dairy owner Bill Hahs of Jackson, Penzel Construction Co. vice president Paul Koeper of Jackson and Tilsit farmer Rick Aufdenberg as announced candidates. Ken Evans, who is self-employed after a 29-year career at Procter & Gamble, is considering the race.

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126