Two new names will join the race to become St. Joseph’s next mayor.

Richard “Dick” Sipe and Norma Jo “Donna” Maccoux picked up petitions Thursday to run for the city’s highest office. Council member Bill Falkner, who announced his candidacy in August, also obtained the needed paperwork to run for mayor Thursday.

In separate interviews, Mr. Sipe and Ms. Maccoux each cited recent arguments at City Hall as one of the biggest obstacles holding back progress in St. Joseph.

“I think it’s time to quit pointing fingers and calling names and get the city back on track,” Mr. Sipe said.

Mr. Sipe applied for the City Council’s vacant seat this summer, but said his eyes were on the mayor’s office all along. His past political experience includes a role as co-chairman of the past three Capital Improvements Program sales tax campaigns. Voters approved all three CIPs, and Mr. Sipe hopes to gather similar support among council members if he is elected.

“My sales pitch is to at least get a majority on the same page,” he said.

Ms. Maccoux formerly worked for Mead and now volunteers at Northwest Missouri Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center, where her husband, Jerry, is the music coordinator. She said she had discussed running for mayor with her husband for about four years. The seed was planted while she listened to a sermon on community service at Word of Life Church.

“I feel like if you’re going to be mayor or be on the City Council, you need to have a compassion for the people so you know what their concerns are,” Ms. Maccoux said.

She hopes to form a coalition of teenagers from local high schools, so youths will feel involved with the city’s business.

Individuals who want to run for mayor, council or municipal judge may obtain a petition from the city clerk’s office, Room 303 at City Hall, 1100 Frederick Ave. Petitions must be filed between Nov. 10 and Dec. 15.

The city will hold its primary election March 2, 2010, followed by the general election April 6.

Clinton Thomas can be reached

at clintonthomas@npgco.com.