CHASE SOME INDUSTRIES, NOT PHANTOM ENEMIES

Regional cooperation is a lofty aspiration, and those who espouse it must believe unity can be built and parochialism can be razed. But preaching the message of regional cooperation isn't enough; it takes faith in all parties involved. For that reason, we remain dismayed by the recent musings of Regional Commerce and Growth Association Executive Director Walt Wildman. His words violate any notion that barriers of old thinking have been broken down for the common good of the region.

In his executive director's report to members of the RCGA board, Wildman de~tailed his participation with the newly formed Cape Girardeau County Area Industrial Recruitment Association. In his version, however, Wildman wrote of the "fear" felt by some persons who wanted to contribute money to the regional effort. The reason these persons were afraid, according to the report, was that they "could see some attacks" resulting from their contributions and that their opponents were "powerful and vindictive."

The Industrial Recruitment Association is a new instrument for, as the name implies, recruiting industry. Buying into this group, through their elected representatives, were the citizens of Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Scott City and Cape Girardeau County and the members of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce. For their dues, these entities purchased votes on the group's seven-member board. The only suggestion of exclusion along the way was aimed at Scott City, which balked at paying its dues. Wildman claims he was instrumental in rounding up "donors" to pay for Scott City's share, though they requested anonymity because of the aforementioned "fear" factor.

Aside from this, Scott City was welcomed aboard from the beginning; in fact, Scott City got a vote on the board for $5,000 while the Cape Girardeau chamber had to pay $15,000 for the same vote. As opposition, this can hardly be characterized as "powerful" or "vindictive."

Wildman's reaction to disclosure of his report is that it was meant only for the eyes of the RCGA board of directors and not for public consumption. He told KZIM Radio listeners Monday that disclosure of the report (not the actual writing of it, which would be self-accusatory) "dampened the spirit" of regional cooperation and set back the cause of economic development. Consider, though, that the RCGA, like the Industrial Recruitment Association, is funded in part by public sources; why not let taxpayers see what their money is going for? And if something sinister is actually afoot, isn't the RCGA and its executive director duty-bound to let the public know?

In fact, nothing sinister is going on. And what Wildman has accomplished with his report is construction of an "us versus them" mind set that is unsupported by facts and destructive to the regional cooperation he so cherishes.

Most troubling in this is that Wildman continues to defend his authorship of this report. All people, at some time or another, wish they could take back something they've said; the executive director restrains himself in this regard. He told the Southeast Missourian last week his report contained "pretty appropriate wording." He told KZIM Monday, "I don't back up on anything I said. I stand behind every word of it." At least we know where he stands. And where he stands doesn't square with our idea of regional cooperation.

When asked now about his report, Wildman urges people to "go forward." Fine. There are numerous economic developers at work in the immediate area: various chambers of commerce, Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority, Greater Cape Development Corp., the Industrial Recruitment Association and Wildman's own RCGA. The tools are in place. A constructive chore at this time would be the pursuit of tangible industries and not phantom enemies.