WARDS BRING RETURN TO OLD-TIME CAMPAIGNING

Candidates for the April 5 Cape Girardeau City Council election are using the ward system to press flesh, post signs and pass out flyers in an effort to rekindle the passion for old-fashioned politics.

"It's been a good experience, getting out to talk to people and finding out what interests them the most," said Brenda Dohogne, who will square off against Tom Neumeyer in Ward 2.

"Voters seem to be concerned with gambling and trash collection fees, and I know housing is something that is on the minds of a lot of people," said Dohogne. "Housing and crime are issues that will have to be addressed in Ward 2."

Neumeyer is convinced he would not have been able to have as many face-to-face conversations were it not for the ward system. "If we were in the old system, it would just be physically impossible to try and go door-to-door and listen to all the people I would want to reach," said Neumeyer.

"I love the ward system, because it gives me an opportunity to listen to the needs of the people and let them know that someone will take what they say to the city council."

Barring snowstorms and freezing weather, Neumeyer has been on the campaign trail since the primary. "I've seen people I haven't seen for years and listened to everything they had to say," said Neumeyer. "I even got some people to volunteer to help with my campaign."

Ward 2 encompasses the east side of the city, bound on the north by Normal Avenue and North Street and on the west by Henderson Avenue and South West End Boulevard.

Candidates who are competing for a city council seat for Ward 6 must cover a larger area than Ward 2. There also is a more diverse collection of residents in Ward 6.

"It's a double-edged sword," said Jay Knudtson, who will oppose Richard L. "Butch" Eggimann in Ward 6. "On the one hand the size of the ward requires a great deal of work because you need to cover a lot of ground and talk to as many people as possible while working full-time," said Knudtson, who is an assistant vice president at Boatmen's Bank in Cape.

"Whenever I start feeling sorry for myself, however, I just remember that it would be even tougher if I had to cover the entire city they way the mayoral candidates do," said Knudtson. "So far it's been a very positive experience for me.

"I've had a very intense campaign -- using the phone, mailing out flyers and hitting about half the houses in my ward in person. I think the way the ward system is set up, people would probably feel neglected if we didn't talk to them or reach them in some way."

Said Eggimann, "It would be easier if I were in Ward 2, where the area is more compact. But you just talk to as many people as possible and try to hit the areas where you think people will vote."

Ward 6 encompasses an area approximately four-and-a-half miles in the west part of the city. "What's interesting is that there are people in Ward 6 with $20,000 homes and yet there are others in the same ward with $500,000 homes," said Eggimann. "The way to deal with it is to address the issues, relying on your background and experience."

Eggimann is a former elementary school principal and superintendent of the Kelso C-7 School District. He was in the appliance and LP gas business in the '60s and was a commercial and residential building contractor. "Right now I'm interested in and involved with real estate," said Eggimann, who owns property off Kage Road.

James J.J. Williamson, who will oppose Frank Stoffregen in Ward 1, indicated he chose to run for the Cape city council because of the ward system.

Stoffregen couldn't be reached for comment Monday.

"I think it's exciting to be able to go door-to-door and talk to the people and find out what their needs and hopes are," said Williamson. Ward 1 is bordered by Henderson on the west side and Cape Rock Drive on the east.

"I'll never feel like I'm done until the last vote is counted," said Williamson. "I want people in my ward to know that all they have to do is call me if they've got something on their mind and I'll make sure that issue is addressed at the city council meetings."