Cape Girardeau's mayoral candidates respond to Q&A

By Bob Miller ~ Southeast Missourian

Cape Girardeau voters will decide today if Melvin Gateley or Jay Knudtson will become the city's next mayor. The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The winner will replace Al Spradling III, who after serving eight years as mayor, has reached his term limit.

Last Wednesday, the Southeast Missourian interviewed the candidates separately and asked both the same seven questions:

What important differences do you feel voters should be aware of between you and your opponent and why will those qualities make a difference if you're elected?

Gateley: OK, that's a good question. It's very clear that the basic differences between me and my opponent is the idea of experience. I learned a lot of decision-making skills from being in education for 37 years, for being on the city council for eight years and being mayor pro tem. I really am almost of the opinion that before you can become mayor, you should have to serve on the city council for like four years or six years or eight years. I'm very enthusiastic. I love Cape Girardeau. I'm well qualified to assume the role of mayor because I know the city real well. I know the people's desires and concerns. Those eight years I served on the council were really a great experience. If people would really look at the difference between the two candidates, it would be easy to see that with my experience, enthusiasm and vision that I could fill the role of mayor in a great way.

Knudtson: First of all, I have a tremendous amount of respect for my opponent. However, we are extremely different people. I'm 38 years old and I'm in my working prime. And I believe my job in the financial area puts me in the mainstream of our economy. I think people really need to ask themselves, "Where do we want to be in the year 2010 and who do we think is best qualified to lead us there?" I think my leadership skills are completely different than my opponent's. And I understand it's critical to dream, but if you can't develop and create enthusiasm and bring the dream to fruition, nothing matters. The clear difference is the ability to negotiate and represent the city in a way that is more than just being a ribbon cutter. The role of mayor of this great city is a huge role and the citizens deserve somebody who has the ability to negotiate for them on the state and national levels and I believe my experience gives me those qualities.

The city is currently having trouble meeting its budget and has formed a committee to look into possible tax increases. Would you push for putting a tax increase on the ballot? And if so, what kind?

Gateley: At this time, I would not be in favor of placing a tax on the public and here's the reason why: The position I have taken throughout the campaign has been that, as mayor, I would study any proposal very carefully. I would look at the present balances. I would also use sound management when it comes to spending. I would also suggest that we use all the alternatives of funding possible, then put those things down in written priorities and share them with people and get their opinions.

Knudtson: Well, the city is in the middle of a major research project right now, i.e., the master plan. City manager Michael Miller has charged each of the departments to develop a needs-and-priorities list, and ultimately that will take some shape and some form and the citizens will have the ability to approve that plan. I am very much for assessing and prioritizing the needs of the city and developing a plan that is fiscally responsible and then allowing the citizens to bless or not bless the plan. We have some real needs and we just have to figure out if they're the same needs that the citizens feel we need to promote.What would be your top priority as mayor?

Gateley: My top priority is working with people ... There's one ingredient that must be present. That's the idea of unity, everybody moving in the same direction. The idea of togetherness, harmony of heart. I've had much experience bringing people together and resolving misunderstandings. I feel that the city leaders need to come together and we need to share our dreams and visions and take the people along with us and establish an agenda. Cape can certainly be a super little city if these things take place.

Knudtson: My top priority as mayor is to take Cape Girardeau to the next level. Cape Girardeau has experienced very small population growth over the last 20 years for a variety of reasons, but I believe and my research has shown -- by exploring and talking to the citizens -- that people are ready to assume the role as hub of the 10-county area. To do that, we have to get our arms around the fiscal status of the city so that we're not operating in an environment that is so close. To put it bluntly, we need some room. We need a financial surplus that allows us to best make the decisions that allow the city to go to the next level.Both candidates talk about a new style of leadership. What, specifically, do you mean by that?

Gateley: There's various types of leadership. I've always been a very outgoing, warm, enthusiastic individual. And you capture people's attention when you show them that you believe in something, that you're a leader, that you're confident, that you have integrity. You can convince the people to follow you because of your enthusiasm and because of the confidence that they have in you. The big difference in leadership is you can look at a person and tell if they like the job. I would continue to be enthusiastic and excited about Cape Girardeau and ready to go to work.

Knudtson: I have gone door-to-door in both the residential sector and the business sector and I've come across people who have indicated that they're going to vote for me and I've asked them why. And they've given me a number of different responses, like "your business experience," "your community involvement," "your wife, Cindy," "your energy and enthusiasm." But the most common response I get when I ask them why they're voting for Jay Knudtson is that they feel I represent a freshness. They feel that because I was not born and raised in Cape Girardeau I have an opportunity to bring a wide sphere of influence to our city and bring a freshness that has no baggage with it. And in a lot of ways our leadership in the past has had to overcome some of that baggage. Don't misunderstand me. To be a native of Cape Girardeau would be something I'd be proud of. But I believe I have the ability to overcome certain objections and challenges because I don't have the baggage of 10 or 20 years ago. I can look at things on the surface for what they are and make a sound decision with no baggage. The mayor only has one vote, so his real responsibilities are to act as a leader and rally the citizens as well as the city council and get everyone going in the same direction. When you can achieve this type of scenario, the sky is the limit.What experience do you have and how will that apply to your job as mayor?

Gateley: The position of mayor is as just another member on the city council. So my experiences have to do with the idea of organization. As a school administrator, a great deal of my time was spent planning and working things out for the betterment of the school. I have some experience in budget making. All the experiences I've had involve the idea of working with people, bringing people together, encouraging people, counseling. You also have to have strong bones in leadership. Sometimes there's some decisions you have to make where you may not feel comfortable, but you know it's for the betterment of the group so you have to stand your ground and go ahead and make your decision.

Knudtson: My job every day includes negotiating with people and assessing problems and trying to best resolve the problems. It's not unlike any other career. My challenges are no different than somebody who is a teacher or a manager of a manufacturing facility or pharmaceutical sales. I just happen to work for a bank. And the one common thread is that it's all about people. And I believe that being involved on a daily basis with people and business people would give me a tremendous amount of leverage when representing the city of Cape Girardeau whether it be in our own community or on the county and state level. A lot of the people we will need to partner with are people that I speak to on a weekly basis. I know these people and it allows me to have a bit of an advantage when I go to negotiate on behalf of the city.How much emphasis would you place on downtown redevelopment?

Gateley: I'm very fond of the downtown. Old Town Cape has taken a great leadership role in downtown. I wouldn't go overboard, but I certainly have interest in the older neighborhoods, north and south Red Star, the south end of town as well as downtown. My emphasis would be that I would be there with them to give them encouragement and to provide leadership in areas where they feel they need it. And I would encourage the individuals in downtown to take a leadership role and the city would be a partner to them and help them in areas where they really need help. I want the downtown area to succeed, and it's going to.

Knudtson: I would place a tremendous amount of emphasis on downtown redevelopment. As part of my research on various needs within the city, I spent a lot of time downtown. I spent time with the downtown merchants. I spent time with the Old Town Cape group. I am excited about the energy that is being developed, but it needs some real support. Otherwise, it will remain a dream. The river is Cape Girardeau's finest natural resource and we have failed to capitalize on it. So it will be my commitment and pledge to heighten the awareness of the downtown redevelopment and determine creative ways for us to develop our downtown so we can be on par with a city like Paducah, Ky., which has done a tremendous job of developing its downtown area. These are ways we will increase our revenues within the city and we will continue to capitalize on the terrific natural resource that we have with the river and the downtown area.What do you feel is your biggest weakness as it would apply to the job of mayor?

Gateley: I don't know that I have a weakness. Certainly to say that I won't make mistakes would be a foolish position to take. I've said a number of times that people are our No. 1 resource. I love people. I just feel with my leadership skills and interest that I could bring the people together and we could lay out a tremendous program for Cape Girardeau and the quality of life could be improved in Cape Girardeau because we have a strategic location and we have so many things going. With my dreams and visions and hard work and cooperation and love for each other we can get a lot done.

Knudtson: My biggest weakness is that I'm not always politically correct. I'm a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of person and I will clearly have to demonstrate the ability to bite my lip more often.

bmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127