Kinder, Guard to Face Off in Cape Girardeau Mayoral Race; Several Council Seats Uncontested

Kinder, Guard to Face Off in Cape Girardeau Mayoral Race; Several Council Seats Uncontested

By lwilliams@semourbanvoices.com - November 24, 2025

By Urban Voices

Cape Girardeau is heading into a pivotal municipal election next spring, with voters set to choose between incumbent mayor Stacy Kinder and former city councilman Robbie Guard in what is shaping up to be a competitive April 7, 2026, mayoral contest. While the top of the ticket promises a lively race, the remainder of the ballot will be far quieter: three City Council seats will be filled without opposition, signaling a mixed landscape of political engagement across the city.

A Clear Two-Way Contest for Mayor

For Mayor Stacy Kinder, the election marks a bid for a second term after first winning office in 2022. Over the past four years Kinder has framed her leadership around three core priorities — public safety, infrastructure, and economic development — and has frequently used her mayoral columns and speeches to highlight ongoing challenges associated with violent crime and aging infrastructure. In her 2024 “Mayor Reflects” column, she pointed to investments the city has made under her administration, including increased pay for public safety personnel, modernized policing technology, and expansion of community-policing strategies.

Kinder’s tenure has also been marked by her efforts to expand collaboration across civic and regional networks. She helped establish the city’s Gun Violence Task Force, worked with school and nonprofit organizations, and represented Cape Girardeau through regional planning bodies and municipal coalitions. Supporters say these relationships demonstrate her ability to elevate local concerns in broader policymaking conversations.

Her challenger, Robbie Guard, is no stranger to city government or civic involvement. A fifth-generation Cape Girardeau native, Guard served as the Ward 4 councilman before shifting back into the private sector, where he works as a senior vice president at MRV Banks. His professional background in finance and economic development has become a central pillar of his campaign. Guard announced his mayoral bid in May 2025, outlining a platform centered on public safety, infrastructure, economic development, and raising Cape Girardeau’s profile in Jefferson City, where he argues the city needs a stronger, more consistent voice.

Guard has also emphasized themes of transparency and trust between city leadership and residents. His community involvement includes board service with the Gibson Center for Behavioral Health and the Mercy Southeast College of Nursing and Health Sciences, as well as participation in the Cape Noon Lions Club. His supporters argue that his combined experience in government, business, and nonprofit work positions him to bring a pragmatic and collaborative approach to the mayor’s office.

Three City Council Seats Go Uncontested

While the mayor’s race promises debate and voter engagement, the same cannot be said for the City Council contests.

In Ward 1, business owner and chef DeWayne Schaaf will run unopposed. Schaaf, who also serves on the Convention & Visitors Bureau Advisory Board, will succeed Councilman Dan Presson, who is stepping down after reaching his term limit.

Ward 2 Councilwoman Tameka Randle will also appear on the ballot without a challenger. First elected in 2022, Randle has focused her time on the council on neighborhood revitalization efforts, infrastructure improvements, and public safety initiatives. With a Master of Public Administration degree from Southeast Missouri State University, she has often served as a voice for bridging city policy with community-based concerns.

In Ward 6, incumbent Mark Bliss is likewise running unopposed. Bliss, a Southeast Missouri State University graduate and active participant in local historic preservation efforts, has represented the ward since 2020. His continued service will extend his focus on neighborhood safety and preservation issues.

What the 2026 Election Means for the City

The upcoming mayoral race presents voters with two sharply defined paths: one rooted in continuing Kinder’s vision of steady administrative progress and expanded regional collaboration, and another reflecting Guard’s call for renewed trust, heightened transparency, and more assertive advocacy at the state level.

The uncontested council races offer a different snapshot of local politics. Some residents may see the lack of challengers as a sign of confidence in the incumbents or satisfaction with the direction of the represented wards. Others view the absence of competitive races as a reminder of the need for broader civic engagement and leadership development within the community.

With public safety, infrastructure funding, housing, and economic development dominating conversations across Cape Girardeau, this election will likely shape the city’s long-term trajectory. Whether voters choose continuity or a shift in leadership, the 2026 municipal race may prove one of the most consequential elections in Cape Girardeau in recent years.