Parks tax passes

While parks and storm-water tax supporters in Cape Girardeau expected a smaller spread between the 2,615 "yes" and 2,012 "no" votes, they greeted the clear win with hoots and cheers in the basement of Bob and Bari Neff's home.

The half-cent tax will fund $25 million in improvements, with $3 million going toward storm-water abatement. The remainder will go to parks and recreation for renovations of existing fields, adding shelters and playground equipment to parks and other projects. It will add an aquatic facility and a south-side community center. One-quarter of the tax is permanent; the remainder expires in 10 years.

Robert Harris, a parks and recreation advisory board member who drives a school bus, had campaigned for the south-side community center.

"This is going to mean a lot to a lot of kids," he said.

Mike Keefe, former parks board chairman, and Danny Essner, who succeeded him last year, were beaming. Keefe credited Essner's softer sales skills for convincing members of the city council to put the tax on the ballot.

Mayor Jay Knudtson saw the win as a clear victory in uncertain economic times. He said it's a sign "the citizens trust the plan and want to take the city to the next level." He said he remains concerned that the city's retail sales tax — 7.975 percent, including the new tax — is too high. Now, he said, city officials must make sure to follow the plan and retain the voters' trust.

Parks and recreation department director Dan Muser said the tax will be "a good thing for everybody. It's not for my department. It's for the people."

AARON EISENHAUER ~ aeisenhauer@semissourian.com Scott Williams wore an "I Voted" sticker on his storm-water and parks and recreation shirt as he talked with other supporters after hearing the results at a watch party Tuesday.

Mark Lanzotti, newly elected to represent Cape Girardeau's Ward 5 after beating opponent Steven Peel 583 to 241, said he did not take the tax victory for granted any more than he did his own campaign. He said he expects to spend the next few months learning the inner workings of city government.

Earlier in the day, Ward 4 resident Kathy Sadler said she supported the progress the tax represented, but as a retiree on a fixed income, she expected the money to be spent as promised.

The sales tax is expected to take effect in the fall.

Tie in mayoral race

In Oran, the mayor's race was tied, with incumbent Tom Urhahn and alderman Ron Diebold Jr. tied, each with 172 votes in the unofficial count. According to Missouri law, the outcome will be decided by "election of lot," or drawing lots, or by a special election.

Two years ago Diebold challenged Urhahn in a three-way race and lost by nine votes.

In the Oran Board of Aldermen races, Billy Senciboy won in Ward 1, Mike McVay won in Ward 2, Russel Friga won an unopposed Ward 3 race and Alfred Bonifield defeated incumbent Gaylon Bryeans II in Ward 4.

In Chaffee's city council races, Jack Simpson won in Ward 1, incumbent Alice McFerron won in Ward 2, unopposed incumbent Bill Dysinger won in Ward 3 and incumbent Jesse Jack Nordin won Ward 4.

In Scott City, incumbent mayor Tim Porch defeated opponent Charlotte Cannon 361 to 83; incumbent Bill Schwartz won re-election in Ward 1; Tim Rushing won election in Ward 2; incumbent Kirk Lewis won an unopposed race in Ward 3; and former councilman Norman Brant retook his Ward 4 seat, beating incumbent Rob Henderson 51 to 26, while Andrew Bard drew 11 votes.

Incumbent Delta Mayor Bonnie Bradshaw received an 87-37 win over opponent Harold Looney; incumbent Collector Kay Keesee took 87 votes to Dale Hobeck's 38. Hughes Lesch, running unopposed, won Delta Ward 1; Ward 2 is not yet certified, according to Kara Clark, Cape Girardeau County clerk, so no name can be given until this afternoon. Likewise, write-in votes for Whitewater trustees will be certified today, she said.

In Chaffee, voters chose Jack Simpson over Mike Jobe 24-20 for Ward 1 councilman; Ward 2 incumbent Alice McFerron's 55 votes beat Jerry Childers' 24, Ronald Eichhorn's 24 and Charles Huey's 5. Bill Dysinger, a Ward 3 incumbent running unopposed, got 25 votes; and incumbent Jesse Jack Nordin kept his Ward 4 seat, getting 89 votes to opponent Paula Hicks' 64.

Reporter Lindy Bavolek contributed to this story.

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