POLITICS: 2ND DISTRICT CAPE COUNTY COMMISSION RACE DEJA VU

The 2nd District Cape Girardeau County Commission race must seem like deja vu to voters.

Max Stovall, the Democratic incumbent, and Republican Joe Gambill have been there before.

Gambill defeated Stovall by 39 votes for the commission seat in 1994 when the term was for two years. Stovall turned the tables in 1996, capturing the seat and a four-year term by less than 500 votes.

Round three will be settled at the polls on Nov. 7. The 2nd District includes all of the city of Cape Girardeau, except for the west side of the city.

The 1st District includes the rest of the county, including the western section of the city of Cape Girardeau.

Both Gambill, 73, and Stovall, 76, favor county planning and zoning. But they say the decision rests with voters who will decide on a measure that would authorize county planning. Approval of the measure would open the door for zoning in the unincorporated areas of the county.

"It has served the cities of Cape Girardeau and Jackson well, and I see no reason why it would not serve the county well," said Gambill.

Stovall and the other two county commissioners put the issue on the ballot. "I think in the long run it would be something that the county would be ahead by doing. Since we are first class, I think it would certainly be an advantage to the county, if it passed," he said.

Both Stovall and Gambill stress fiscal responsibility.

"The county does not have any real major issues," said Gambill. "I think that fiscal responsibility is the prime concern of the county."

Cape Girardeau County's jail expansion project is nearing completion in Jackson. Work is scheduled to begin next year on a new juvenile detention center in Cape Girardeau.

Gambill said the county needs to build up its "rainy day fund" so it can address any major emergencies in the future, such as a major natural disaster.

The county has a reserve fund. "I don't think it is as much as it should. They should kind of put a hold on any major expenditures after the ones that are in place," he said.

Stovall said the county has been on a building program in recent years, including the jail project, construction of a new archives center and the scheduled construction of a new juvenile center.

The county also plans to issue bonds to help finance construction of a nature center. The Missouri Department of Conservation would pay off the bonds and operate the center.

"I see the county as being close on financing for this next year," said Stovall. "We have done so much building."

The 2nd District commissioner oversees county buildings and parks. Both candidates believe their business backgrounds give them the necessary management experience to handle such supervisory duties.

A retired plant manager, Gambill formerly managed the BioKyowa plant, which manufactures animal feed supplements; and the former Marquette Cement plant in the Cape Girardeau area, as well as manufacturing plants in eight other states.

Stovall is a retired building contractor. He previously owned two block and brick companies, an excavating and construction company, and a real estate development firm.

Joe Gambill

Age: 73

Hometown: Cape Girardeau.

Party: Republican

Profession: Retired plant manager. Managed BioKyowa plant for 11 years, managed Marquette Cement plant for 10 years, was senior vice president of operations for Bahama Cement in Freeport, Grand Bahama, for three years, managed other manufacturing plants in eight states.

Family: Married. He and his wife, Rosemary, have five children.

Affiliations: Member of St. Vincent's Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau Lions Club, Cape Girardeau Country Club, Tower Club, Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, board of directors of CrimeStoppers, board of directors of Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association, St. Francis Medical Center board of directors, serves on the Area Wide United Way golf tournament committee, past member of the Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission, past member of the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority.

Political history: Elected 2nd District county commissioner in 1994 and served a two-year term.

Max Stovall

Age: 76

Hometown: Cape Girardeau

Party: Democrat

Profession: Retired businessman. Previously owned two block and brick companies, an excavating and construction company, and a real estate development business.

Family: Married. He and his wife, Evelyn, have two children.

Affiliations: Member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, Cape Girardeau Kiwanis Club, board of directors of the Cape Girardeau Industrial Recruitment Association, Southeast Missouri Hospital Board of Trustees, 33rd Degree Mason with St. Mark's Lodge 93, past member and president of the Cape Girardeau Rotary Club, served four years on the board of director of the Missouri Veterans Home inn Cape Girardeau.

Political history: Elected in 1955 as public works commissioner for the city of Cape Girardeau and served in that position from 1956 to 1960. Elected Cape Girardeau County 2nd District commissioner in 1996. Seeking a second, four-year term.

Candidates Q&ADo you support planning and zoning?

Gambill: "It has served the cities of Cape Girardeau and Jackson well and I see no reason why it would not serve the county well. As far as I am concerned, if they vote it in, I will administer it."

Stovall: "I think in the long run it would be something that the county would be ahead by doing. Since we are first class, I think it would certainly be an advantage to the county if it passed."

What is the biggest issue facing Cape Girardeau County government?

Gambill: "I think that fiscal responsibility is the prime concern of the county. If we have a major disaster, we have to have funds to get through that period. We have to have the money set aside, a rainy day fund. I don't think it is as much as it should be."

Stovall: "I see the county as being close on financing for this next year. We have done so much building. I can't see us continuing to build new buildings. We have to stop and catch our breath."

Why should people vote for you?

Gambill: "I have for over 40 years managed other people, other people's money and assets. It is similar to what I have been doing all my life. I have 40 years of experience at it, managing cement plants, large stone quarries, line plants, managing BioKyowa."

Stovall: "I have been responsible for upkeep and maintenance and beautification of the Common Pleas Courthouse and all the courthouses, really, overseeing buildings and grounds. I have been a building contractor. It gives me a little edge over my opponent, I think, in doing that."