Well, here's a problem that's a likely culprit:

You're using strict, GOOD! Keep it in there.

However, your $query variable isn't declared as a global or with "my" (preferred).

Change the line $query = new CGI; to my $query= new CGI; and you've fixed this variable so it can run correctly under strict.

You should declare variables with "my" when you're using strict, which, of course, you're always doing : )

Here's a great node on scoping.