Seven to run for Cape Girardeau school board

The Cape Girardeau school board election is shaping up to be more exciting than last year. Seven people are running for three seats, including incumbents Dr. Steve Trautwein, Martha Hamilton and Tom Reinagel. Last year the race was uncontested.

Others who have filed are:

• Carrie Beth Smith, a clinical pharmacist at Saint Francis Medical Center;
• Tony Smee, the vice president of ServiceMaster and KMC Construction;
• Gene Magnus, who just completed his MBA in health management; and
• Stacy Kinder, the former president of the Cape Girardeau Public Schools Foundation.

An eventful year, which included the superintendent's contract being terminated, numerous financial issues -- including the discovery of a $700,000 error -- and the district's dropout rate reaching 10.3 percent, could have sparked more interest in the school system.

"Any time there are more candidates to choose from there is a benefit to voters," Trautwein said at an informational meeting for prospective board members Jan. 10.

In Jackson, the three incumbents, Mack Illers, Terri Tomlin and Dr. T. Wayne Lewis, are running for re-election. Scott Wren, who has two children in the district, and Bruce Thomas, a former Jackson teacher, have also filed.

In Scott City, incumbents Wayne Pettit, Sally Porch and William Wilthong have filed for re-election. Lisa Schaefer, a former Scott City school board member who lost re-election by three votes last year, filed for a seat Tuesday morning.