CITY OF CAPE GIRARDEAU QUESTION: ZONE REPRESENTATION; IN FAVOR

Lawrence Godfrey helped lead the petition to place city zone representation on the ballot in Cape Girardeau. He is a resident of Cape Girardeau and works at Horizon Screen Printing. He has been a candidate for City Council in the past.

The United States of America is the mightiest modern nation that man has created. This nation was founded on the highest principles thatmen of "good" will and common sense have been able to put into practice to this date.

We still face many perplexing problems, but we can be justly proud of what we as a united people have accomplished to date.

With the absence of the prejudices of old, man is left to apply the instinct of freedom to all social relations and public interest. No power or combination of power should deprive a citizen of the right and power of self-government and of shaping his own political fortunes and destinies.

Good neighbor policy

Let us dedicate this city of Cape Girardeau to the policy of the good neighbor the neighbor who resolutely respects himself and because he does so, respects the right of his obligation and the sanctity of his agreements with his neighbors.

What are we looking at in the Zone representation? Let us elect six council members to be representative of the people in six equally populated Zones within the city of Cape Girardeau.

The point is, your zone would have a voice in expressing concerns of your area of the City. The person elected from your zone would be in daily contact with the people, not as a visitor a few times a year, but as a neighbor living there. Neighbors selecting a neighbor to represent them, someone you could see often and talk with in comfort.

Will improve voter participation

Election of the City's Council by zone representation will promote more voter participation in city government elections. Zone representation for the City Council will be campaigned within the Zone area, perhaps even door to door. This is a strong benefit, to meet the candidate one on one, instead of through expensive newspaper and radio ads. When was the last time you as a Citizen of Cape Girardeau met and talked with one of your City's six Council representatives?

Cape is large enough that there is a need for more understanding of area problems in certain sections of the City. What may be perceived by one faction in the Red Star District of the city could be perceived differently from another side of the city, and there would be more discussions and accountability with City Zone representation.

City Zone representation would not be division, but cooperation by giving the City Council more awareness of what the problems are in the entire City.

Party bosses will not take over

City Zone representation will not promote the working of deals; corruption will not rule; party bosses will not take over, because there will be better communication and accountability to a smaller block of voters.

At-large representation tends to force candidates for the City's Council to ignore smaller voting areas. For the Citizens in their sections of our City, one-person, one-vote does not apply. The negation of these voters over the years is the prime reason for low voter turnout at election time. They think their vote would not change the way the City's Government is being handled.

City Zone representation will eliminate social and economic cliques that control our City's government now and allow a broader base of representation to solve the City's problems.

If it is representation of the people, by the people that we want, then equal voice for all by City Zone representation is what we need.

I am sure the people of Cape are too enlightened not to understand their own rights and interest and to detect and defeat every effort to gain undue advantage over them.

Therefore, I ask you fellow citizens, elect a neighbor, vote for City Zone representation on November 3rd.