ALEXANDER CO. VOTERS RETURN 3 INCUMBENT MAYORS TO OFFICE

TAMMS, Ill. -- Three incumbent mayors were returned to office in Alexander County, Ill. communities Tuesday.

Two of the incumbents had to fend off challengers. Tamms village President Walter Pang defeated challenger Donald Holshouser, 160 to 72, and Thebes Mayor David D. McNeely won handily over challenger Tina Baugher, 103 to 27.

There was no opposition in East Cape Girardeau elections and the voter turnout was light. Joe Aden, who was unopposed for re-election as mayor, received 21 votes. Caroline Thomas, unopposed for city clerk, also received 21 votes. Two incumbent trustees Rich Walker and Mary Abercrombie received 16 and 17 votes respectively, and newcomer Leon Gibbar received 15 votes to fill the vacancy created when Don Hileman decided not to run this year.

Meanwhile, seven candidates sought three trustee positions at Tamms. Only one of two incumbents won, Lester Pickett, with 88 votes. Newcomers to the board will be Charles Hood, with 234 votes, and James Greenley, with 132. Others receiving votes were incumbent David Hutchison, 64; and challengers Dorothy LaForest, 57; Vicki Baker, 54, and Darold Dunning, 74.

There were no contests for aldermen at Thebes. Incumbents Linda K. Sutton and Randy D. Sutton, received 109 and 108 votes respectively, and Raymond Dodson earned 115 votes. Also unopposed was city clerk Thelma Foutch with 126 votes.