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Mayor speaks at downtown fundraiser for District 2 county commission candidateSunday, September 7, 2008
As he was introducing Independent county commission candidate Rock Finch at a downtown fundraiser Saturday evening, Cape Girardeau Mayor Jay Knudtson said he had two reasons why he is supporting the effort begun with a petition drive to put Finch on the ballot. "No. 1, I want to eradicate the guy that is in there right now," Knudtson said to applause from the gathering of about 30 people. The second reason, he said, is that Finch has the attributes — Knudtson listed trustworthiness, loyalty, wisdom and calmness among others — to do the job well. Finch, an insurance consultant and broker, is attempting to unseat incumbent Republican Jay Purcell, who is seeking his second term as District 2 commissioner. District 2 voters include most of the people who live within the city limits of Cape Girardeau. The gathering at Ashley Bailey Custom Cabinets on North Main Street featured cocktails, a baked potato bar and conversation about the upcoming election. Those in attendance, along with Knudtson, included Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones, Republican county committee treasurer Pete Frazier, banker Moe Sandfort, former commissioner Joe Gambill, retired businessman Harry Rediger and county assessor Jerry Reynolds, a Democrat. Finch has sought to portray his campaign as a foray into public service after years in business. But in a conversation at the fundraiser, he also opened up about what he feels is wrong with the commission right now. The bickering and acrimony between Purcell and Jones, which has spilled over into the courts and includes secret recordings of conversations, has the potential to damage Cape Girardeau's image and drive away new industry, Finch said. "I am sick and tired of playing the game of 'gotcha,'" he said. rkeller@semissourian.com 335-6611, extension 126 Related Links
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101
I don't know anything about Finch, but if he is just going to be at the beck and call of Knudtson and Jones, forget about it. At least Purcell is standing up to those two who CLEARLY need it. He really is getting a bad rep from his association with them.
And I like that the mayor's speech was to a group of 30. What is that, like a class room...?
Now what does the mayor have to hide? Now we see that he and Jones have been having private meetings all along, something else none of us knew about. This just gets better and better. Jones, Swingle, Knutson, all need to go. This is like a mob movie. I wonder what outside business people think of all this. I would be scared to bring a business to this town, with the mayor and county comish all in cahoots with each other!
fxpwt-
thank God!
frazzled -
if I read it right - the mayor is already term-limited?
From the Code of Ordinances - City of Cape Girardeau, Part I, Article III, Section 3.02
http://www.municode.com/...
No person may serve more than two (2) consecutive full terms as mayor. No person may serve more than two (2) consecutive full terms as council members.
Now all we need is a good candidate to step up to the challenge of running against our mayor!
Wow, are you kidding me? The mayor doesn't trust Purcell because of secretly taped conversations by Purcell but in the other article in today's paper the mayor says he & Jones get together at least once a month to discuss things between the two of them? Gee, I don't know why Purcell would feel the need to record meetings & private conversations. What does the mayor & Jones need to discuss that can't be said in a regular meeting. How many decisions have been made about public business with a wink & a handshake? Can you imagine ANY business interested in coming to Cape with this mess going on? Thanks for the articles, Rudi, it's clear to me that "the good ole boy's" way of running the county needs to be stopped! I know who I'm voting for now!
sounds and reads like he will be in the back pocket of the "lord mayor" and county attorney and mr. jones will be able to get his way just as it has been in the past. he has got to know where his loyalty is coming from the three mentioned above.
My vote is for Finch. He truly has "trustworthiness, loyalty, wisdom and calmness". This is what Cape County needs! I agree 100% with Finch when he says he's "sick and tired of playing the game of 'gotcha".
Finch offers us a clean slate and the willingness to be a public servant. If he wants to serve us, let him! He's tired of games!
GREAT job Rudi!!! On both articles.
TommyStix,
I agree completely with your thoughts about Finches supporters. He would have had much more success, IF these folks had NOT publically supported him.
Didn't I read Finch was "encouraged" running by one of them???
"While the idea to run was his, Finch said, he has received encouragement from many area leaders." http://www.semissourian.com/...
btw...Found several 'positively' written articles on Finch's getting on the ballot. Whereas, most mentioning Purcell seem fairly negative...YET...the outcry on today's articles...seems to SUPPORT transparency (and Purcell's questionable behavior or recording public conversations).
The more Knudtson, Jones, Morley, etc. try to subvert Purcell the more it backfires on all of them. They are really the ones that come off looking like a bunch of putzes.
Regarding Finch - he may be a neato cool guy, etc. but the fact that Jones, Knudtson, and Morley are in favor of him makes me EXTREMELY cautious and suspicious.
isn't it amazing what a little bit of power can do to one's brain????
just goes to show you all (citizens/voters)of cape girardeau, mo what our "lord mayor" is made of. it also shows how intelligent he really is to have made a speech like this. boy we have a real ding bat here.
he sure must have something to hide, that might be on tape?????just wonder what it is. my vote is for purcell. sorry mr. "lord mayor" ruler of all....your time is coming....
Now we know the next we we need to try to replace, Knudtson.
"No. 1, I want to eradicate the guy that is in there right now," Knudtson said to applause from the gathering of about 30 people
Wow, talk about a threat. Does he mean physically or politically? Instead of being called Mayor maybe we should start calling you "Don" Knudtson.
totally agree with Me'Lange-
Our Mayor should be so ashamed of what he is publicly saying and acting in regards to this issue. He is so deep into this good ole boys network and it isn't funny.
Mayor K - GROW UP! Act like the civil servant that you are and not like you own our town! Why are you so threatened by Purcell- what is it that you have to hide?
"No. 1, I want to eradicate the guy that is in there right now,"
WOW!
It is 100% unethical for a Mayor of a city included in a County to publically support a candidate. It is also unethical for the County Prosecuting Attorney to solicit support. My logic...They are taking advantage of the trust voters empowered one with.
btw...I do realize they both are within their "legal" rights to do so...ethically and morally wrong to exercise those rights, given their elected positions. IMO