ANOTHER ELECTION NEEDED

Some Cape Girardeau voters will go back to the polls, likely in August, to elect a fourth new council member.

On Tuesday, voters in Wards 1, 2 and 6 will select three councilmen, and voters city-wide will select a new mayor.

Because both mayoral candidates are sitting council members with two years remaining in their terms, a special election must be held to replace the new mayor.

The mayoral candidates are Al Spradling III, who represents Ward 3 on the council, and Melvin Gateley, who lives in Ward 5.

"If there was less than a year on the term created by the vacancy, then the council could appoint someone," said City Attorney Warren Wells. "Since there's two years left, the council will have to hold a special election."

Wells said the city charter requires a 90-day nominating, filing and campaigning period for council elections, which means August likely will be the first opportunity to fill the council.

"April 18 is probably the earliest the council would adopt an ordinance to declare nominations open," he said. "That would put the election in August at the earliest, but it might be pushed back to November."

The council will operate with only six members, including the mayor, until the special election.

"It shouldn't really be an inconvenience," said Wells. "We've had tie votes before from an absence or abstention. We'll just have a six-member council for a few months."