JACKSON -- Mike Kasten, an area rancher and businessman, announced Wednesday that he will file as a Republican candidate for presiding commissioner of Cape Girardeau County.

Kasten promised to focus on the positive things about Cape County and to formulate a long-range plan that would enable the county to adapt to changing times in innovative ways.

"People tend to dwell on the negative when they talk about what needs to be changed in Cape County, said Kasten. "What we need to realize is that our county has many positive aspects, and, in fact, is the envy of many Missouri counties.

"This creates the greatest challenge of all: to take what is good in Cape Girardeau County and make it even better. We must have better coordination and utilization of services and resources between the county and cities, we need better long-term planning of the county's capital improvements, we need to strengthen our efforts at developing our port authority and building our industry base, and provide fiscally conservative safeguards for our reserves."

From his business experience, Kasten said he has learned the importance of keeping up with change and having to do more with less. That experience should help him handle the responsibilities of presiding commissioner effectively, he said.

Cape County Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep indicated early last year that he would not seek a fifth term. The county commission has two associate commissioners elected from districts and a presiding commissioner elected at-large.

Kasten is the first candidate to announce his desire to run for the four-year term.

He serves on the board of directors of Kasten Masonry Sales Inc., Kasten Concrete Products Inc., and Kasten Clay Products Inc. He owns a large cattle operation in Cape and Bollinger counties.

Kasten served as president of the Missouri Cattlemen's Association in 1991, was on the board of directors of the National Cattlemen's Association in 1991-92, and serves on its public affairs committee. He served on the board of directors of the Missouri Beef Industry Council and Missouri Beef Cattle Improvement Association. He is a member of Farm Bureau.

In his role with the state group, Kasten has been involved in lobbying for the state's $1.2 billion a year cattle industry. That experience should help him work on behalf of Cape County, he said.

"I believe my obligation as presiding county commissioner will be to see our voice is heard on supporting legislation that gives our local communities more rights and opposing costly and unnecessary mandates that the bureaucrats might attempt to level on our taxpayers," said Kasten. "I am opposed to new government mandates and will work to put pressure on our state and federal officials to oppose them."

During the last few years Cape County has built a capital trust account of more than $3.5 million that is set aside for emergencies and major improvements. If elected, Kasten said he wants to put tight restrictions on the use of that money.

Kasten said long-range planning is essential and must include a capital improvement budget for roads and bridges and all county services. Plans should be developed for three to five years and updated annually, he said.

Kasten said he supports a coordinated effort for economic development to attract new industry and to support existing industry. Although it is important to look to new industrial prospects, Kasten said he does not want to overlook the potential of helping existing businesses expand by providing improved infrastructure and support.

A native of Cape Girardeau, Kasten is the son of state Rep. Mary Kasten and Cape Girardeau City Councilman Dr. Melvin Kasten. He is a graduate of Central High School and attended the University of Missouri.

He and his wife, Priscilla, live in Jackson. She is employed by the Roerig Division of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. Kasten is a lifetime member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Cape.