Kinder responds to fire union endorsement, defends public safety record ahead of April 7 election
FOX23 News at 9 p.m
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — Cape Girardeau Mayor Stacy Kinder addressed a recent endorsement by the local firefighters union, which announced its support for her opponent in the April 7 mayoral election.
In a statement, Kinder said she supports the city’s police officers and firefighters and pointed to pay increases implemented during her term. Since 2022, police officer pay has increased 41% and firefighter pay has increased 43%, according to Kinder. She also said overtime has been reduced in both departments and that previously unfilled police officer positions — more than 20 in 2022 — have since been filled.
Kinder criticized a 2016 labor contract between the city and the fire union that she said included provisions for time-and-a-half pay and violations of federal labor law. She said the contract contributed to $2.6 million in fire department budget overruns between 2021 and 2025. Those overruns were offset by vacancies in other city departments, including the police department, she said.
Kinder said the city’s operational budget remains tight amid flattening revenue trends and argued that additional concessions to union demands would require shifting funds from other departments or raising taxes. She called on his opponent to specify how any proposed concessions would be funded.
“Proper planning for the needs they face in salaries, equipment and technology is much more difficult than making empty campaign promises,” Kinder said in the statement.
Kinder said she will continue supporting public safety funding if reelected. The mayoral election is scheduled for April 7.
Related links: Cape Girardeau firefighters endorse Robbie Guard for mayor – KBSI FOX23 News Cape Girardeau News | Paducah News
