CITY VOTERS TO FILL TWO COUNCIL POSITIONS

Voters Tuesday will find only two contested races on the Cape Girardeau City Council ballot: a rematch from 1994 in Ward 1 and two neighbors vying for a vacant seat in Ward 3.

In Ward 1, incumbent James "J.J." Williamson Jr., 46, of 117 Centennial Drive and Frank Stoffregen, 44, of 223 Capaha Trail are competing a second time for a four-year seat on the City Council.

Williamson owns an insurance agency.

Stoffregen is a realtor and partner in P and S Development.

Williamson won the 1994 election by fewer than 20 votes.

In Ward 3, Gerald Stevens, 58, of 329 N. Pacific and Jay Purcell, 30, of 315 N. Pacific are competing for a two-year unexpired term that opened when Jack Rickard resigned from the City Council last year.

Purcell ran unsuccessfully against Rickard for the Ward 3 seat in 1996.

Stevens, a former member of Cape Girardeau's Planning and Zoning Commission, owns two tax-preparation offices in Ste. Genevieve and Perryville and is a realtor.

Purcell works at Dana Corp. He owns rental property and a coin-operated laundry in Cape Girardeau.

Williamson said he wants to continue improving streets and infrastructure in Ward 1 and "continue the quality of life that Cape Girardeau citizens now have."

He also wants to see the development of Washington Park completed with ball fields and basketball goals.

Williamson said when the Cape Girardeau School District closes Washington School, "Those kids on that end of town will need a place to go."

Stoffregen's emphasis is on sound fiscal management and promoting job growth in Cape Girardeau. He also calls for easing licensing requirements for property owners interested in renovating or rehabilitating their properties and for cutting taxes and fees.

A pet project would be developing a playground area in flood-buyout property in the Red Star District.

Stevens said his priority would be promoting housing growth in the city and development in areas newly annexed into Cape Girardeau.

Purcell said he would work to "provide a safe environment for people to work, live, worship and play in."

Purcell also supports making it easier for property owners to upgrade their properties and increasing affordable housing in the city.

He wants to work to decrease drug and juvenile crimes in the city.

Three incumbents are running without opposition. Mayor Al Spradling III, Ward 2 Councilman Tom Neumeyer and Ward 6 Councilman Richard "Butch" Eggimann are all seeking second terms on the City Council.