VOTERS IN JACKSON WARDS 1,3 FACE ALDERMANIC CONTESTS TUESDAY

JACKSON -- Two aldermanic races in wards 1 and 3 face Jackson voters Tuesday.

Aldermen who are unopposed in the April election are Ward 2 Alderman Kevin Sawyer and Ward 4 Alderman Jack Piepenbrok. In Ward 2, Dave Reiminger is the only candidate that filed for the one-year unexpired term of former Alderman Phil Johnston, who has moved to Oklahoma to accept a new job.

City Collector Beverly Nelson is also unopposed in her bid for another term in office.

Vicki Abernathy and David Hitt are running for the Ward 1 vacancy created when Alderman Paul Sanders filed against Mayor Carlton "Cotton" Meyer.

In Ward 3, first-term Alderman Valerie Tuschhoff is opposed in her bid for re-election by Robert "Butch" Wright.

Hitt, 41, said he has been interested in city government for the past 10 to 12 years, and decided to run for alderman at the urging of several people.

He has served on the Jackson Park Board for nine years and was the board chairman for six of those years. During that time, Hitt said, the park board has been able to develop Litz Park, purchase and develop Brookside Park, plus develop several ball diamonds and pavilions in the main city park and develop several soccer fields.

Hitt said his experience on the park board makes him better understand the need to meet budget restraints and the need to work with city employees and the community.

"If elected, I will strive to continue to call on the many fine citizens of Jackson to become more involved in community affairs. It is their city, and as a team, we can make Jackson even better," he said.

Hitt is a full-time member of the Missouri Army National Guard's 1140th Combat Engineer Battalion at Cape Girardeau.

Abernathy also is running at the urging of several people who wanted her to become involved in city government.

She is the past president of the Jackson Heritage Association, and was chairman of Jackson's 175th birthday celebration. She is chairman of the Jackson area Girl Scouts fund-raising group, a member of the Thursday Literary Club and the Band Mothers Association, and a past member of the American Business Women's Association.

She says her background is important "I've been very involved in the community" but contends that actions are more significant.

"I believe the position of alderman is not a part-time position," she said. "It requires 365 days and 24-hour dedication."

A Jackson High School graduate who studied speech and theater at Southeast Missouri State University, Abernathy was a flight attendant for 15 years and now is employed as a furniture showroom hostess setting up shows in Dallas and High Point, N.C., for Harris-Marcus of Chicago.

She calls herself "very people-oriented" and said she wants to be a voice for the citizens of Ward 1 and uphold the city's progressive tradition.

"I just care about Jackson's heritage and its continued growth for the future," Abernathy said.

Tuschhoff said her first term as Ward 3 alderman has been a learning experience. "I feel that I have learned a lot during the past two years, and now I'm ready to put that experience to work," she said.

Tuschhoff said she is particularly pleased with the role she played in getting traffic signals installed by the state at West Jackson Boulevard and West Lane Avenue.

Tuschhoff owns and operates a furniture reupholstering shop in uptown Jackson.

This is Wright's first try at political office. He owns and operates Advanced Technology Products of Jackson with his brother, Darrell. "I'm an active businessman, and I would like to become more involved in our city government," he said.