NEW, FAMILIAR FACES ELECTED TO CAPE COUNCIL

Two new faces will join the Cape Girardeau City Council while an incumbent will return. Hugh White, Matt Hopkins and Jay Purcell were elected Tuesday to three open seats.

Purcell was the lone incumbent and ran unopposed. He collected 600 votes in Ward 3.

In Ward 4, Hugh White defeated Ken Lipps 737-469. White was previously elected to the council in 1988 and served until 1992.

White said he's ready to "hit the ground running." Although there will be some catching up to do, he said.

But serving on the council has some universal aspects like communicating with the public, making yourself available to constituents and such, White said.

He had been concerned that he hadn't devoted enough time to campaigning and making contact with people. With issues at his workplace and commitments to his church, White said he didn't devote as much time as he would have liked to door-to-door campaigning.

"That's pretty critical," he said. "I was really concerned that Mr. Lipps would do well because he had made that contact."

Lipps said he is confident that White will be a competent council member. "He was before and will be again."

While "it's no fun to lose, not everybody can win," Lipps said. He was just glad to see contested races. "I really support the ward system and hope that more people participate."

In Ward 5, voters selected Matt Hopkins to fill the vacant seat. Hopkins earned 555 votes to 244 earned by Lawrence Godfrey.

Hopkins has not held a public office but did seek office in 1998 as Cape Girardeau County Collector.

There was not any divisive issue that prompted Hopkins to run for office, he said. "I just wanted forward progress for the city and to make a difference."

Hopkins hopes to upgrade vital city services and review some processes for how residents and businesses get building permits. Many of the residents Hopkins talked with voiced concerns on those issues, he said.

Godfrey has unsuccessfully run for a council seat in three earlier elections. He was defeated each time but doesn't plan to give up.

Campaigning for city council "has been a good experience," he said. "I always enjoy meeting people."

Godfrey said he hadn't done much campaigning, other than going door-to-door, but he wasn't worried about winning or losing the race.

He helped spearhead a petition drive in 1992 to change the city's charter and adopt a ward system. Those amendments were approved by voters. Godfrey said, at the time, that the ward system was "more democratic" than at-large elections.

He attributes that system to the cooperative attitudes and atmosphere on the council. "There hasn't been much fighting in the last eight years," he said.

Godfrey said he will continue to work for changes and improvements in the city. "I always have," he said, adding that now shouldn't be any different. He added, "I think we are headed in the right direction.

The new council members will be sworn-in during a special meeting Friday afternoon at City Hall.