CITY COUNCIL FILINGS OPEN ON WEDNESDAY

Two of three Cape Girardeau city councilmen whose terms expire next spring say they will seek re-election.

The filing period for Cape Girardeau City Council candidates opens Wednesday and continues through Dec. 6. The municipal election is scheduled for April 7.

The four-year terms of Councilmen Al Spradling III, Hugh White and David Barklage expire next spring, and Spradling and White said Wednesday they intend to file for re-election.

Barklage, who said he would not seek a third term following election in 1988 to his second, said Wednesday that he's now undecided whether he'll file. Spradling and White both are in their first term of office.

Council candidates must be nominated by petition. Petition forms are available at the city clerk's office in City Hall

To be eligible to run, a candidate must submit a petition signed by at least 50 registered city voters and sign an "acceptance of nomination" form.

The forms must be filed with the city clerk not earlier than 90 days and not later than 60 days before the primary election, scheduled for Feb. 4.

A primary election is held if more than six candidates are running. The names of the six candidates receiving the highest number of votes in the primary will be placed on the general election ballot in the order of total votes received by each.

Following the general election, the existing council is required to canvass the returns and declare the results, and induct the elected council members at a special meeting. The meeting must be held within a week after the election.

Candidates who raise more than $1,000 in campaign contributions also are required to file disclosures of the source of their campaign funds. The disclosures are required 40 days and seven days prior to the election and 30 days after.

The financial disclosures also apply to primary elections.

Also, due to a new state ethics-in-government law, those candidates elected to the council along with certain appointed city officials will be required to file by May 1 disclosure of their financial interests.

City Attorney Warren Wells said the disclosure requirements don't apply to candidates.

The new law requires disclosure of certain financial information relating to transactions between the official, or anyone in his immediate family, and the city, as well as certain disclosures relating to assets and income.

The assets and income requirements cover council members and the city's manager, chief purchasing officer and attorney.