Gunn chosen to fill Ward 3 seat on Cape Girardeau City Council

Victor R. Gunn will be the newest member of the Cape Girardeau City Council.

He was elected the Ward 3 representative over challenger Evan Trump on Tuesday. Trump is the former Cape Girardeau County Republican chairman and the district manager for Bi-State Southern Convenience Stores.

Gunn has worked as a political consultant and campaign manager in Missouri and Alaska and retired in 1995 as deputy chief of the Fairbanks Police Department.

The council position became vacant after Trent Summers resigned March 31 and announced his plans to move out of the city. The council temporarily appointed Patrick Koetting to represent the ward, and he will step down after Gunn is sworn in.

The newly elected councilman said he looks forward to working with the other members, especially to tackle what he said he believes is the biggest issue in the city: safety.

"I would like to address public safety problems we've seen in our city, and that seems the be our No. 1 issue," said Gunn. "The clear-cut message I received from voters is that's not acceptable."

Four homicides have taken place in the city in the past three months. Gunn said he planned to work with the other council members and the police department to find a solution to the problem and alleviate public concern over the

issue.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

Cape Girardeau, MO