Pair vie for alderman post in Jackson

For the first time since 2007, Jackson voters in Ward 3 will have a choice of alderman candidates at the ballot. Incumbent Mark Dambach will face Michael A. Steinhilber on April 2.

Steinhilber has never held public office, but said he was prompted to throw his hat in the ring to give people an alternative at the polls.

"There was a whole list of people running unopposed," he said Thursday.

Steinhilber moved to Jackson three years ago from Illinois near St. Louis, he said. His wife, Linda, attended high school in Jackson and wanted to return with their children to be close to extended family in the area.

Concerns related to his family were foremost when he was asked what issues he'd like to see addressed in the community. His children attend West Lane Elementary and Jackson Middle School. Traffic on Oak Street in the mornings and afternoons is backed up and dangerous, Steinhilber said. He'd like to see the pattern improved, possibly using some of the open land around the schools to route travel off the main street, he said.

Steinhilber works as a Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority driver. His wife owns and operates Clip Art, a salon, art gallery and music instruction space at 345 S. Daisy Ave.

He favors a conservative style of governance and hopes to better promote businesses and activities in Jackson, such as the Independence Day celebration. A national issue he felt was relevant to Jackson was the debate on gun rights. He said he believed the 2nd Amendment, the constitutional law granting people the right to bear arms, was written to protect citizens from a tyrannical government and remains important.

"I'm a good guy and will do everything I can to serve the Jackson community," Steinhilber said.

Dambach has served as Ward 3 alderman since being elected in 2007. Except for a few years he spent in the Navy, he has lived in Jackson since birth.

Infrastructure challenges are the most important issues the city faces, Dambach said. The city has made extensive expenditures to comply with state and federal regulations controlling its electrical plant, wastewater and sewer systems.

Dambach pointed to the need to install parts similar to catalytic converters on the city's backup electrical generators, which he said has cost nearly $1 million. A 2010 Environmental Protection Agency ruling mandated the equipment, even though the generators are only run when there is an outage. The city also has had to install pricey ultraviolet disinfection systems at the wastewater treatment plant and put in an expensive lift to raise an outlet pipe in the system. Jackson's water plant and water lines also need general upgrading, he said.

Dambach said he also is concerned about federal emissions regulations that may affect the city in the future. He estimated that 95 percent of the city's power is generated originally from coal, which is subject to increased regulations that could cause an increase in prices.

Another infrastructure issue Dambach noted was related to public safety, citing the need for more police officers and a larger police building.

"Our town is growing steadily and to take care of it properly, we need to expand our police department," Dambach said.

Dambach said that he did not subscribe to "liberal" or "conservative" labels and tried to consider everyone's point of view.

"Everyone has good ideas," he said.

Jackson city administrators are good at efficiently using taxpayer dollars, Dambach said. Aldermen make a flat fee of $125 per month, he said.

"I like to personally be involved and do what I can to help my city," said Dambach.

Dambach is the only Jackson city official facing opposition. No one filed to run against incumbent Mayor Barbara Lohr or sitting aldermen Wanda Young of Ward 1, David Hitt of Ward 2 or Tommy Kimbel of Ward 4.

salderman@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

101 Court St., Jackson,